About the Role:As a Mechanisms Engineer, you will own a critical spacecraft mechanism subsystem from concept through flight. Depending on your background and team priorities, your assignment will be hold-down and release mechanisms (HDRMs), solar array deployment and drive systems, deployable structures (antennas, booms, radiators), or thermal/radiator articulation mechanisms. This is a hands-on role at the center of spacecraft hardware development. You will work closely with structures, thermal, power, avionics, and mission operations to design integrated systems, build hardware, and validate through test. You'll be expected to move quickly, iterate often, and take full ownership of mechanisms that directly impact mission success.
Responsibilities:- Own your mechanism subsystem from concept through design, analysis, test, and flight.
- Drive structural and kinematic design for minimum mass while meeting strength, stiffness, fatigue, and operational-life requirements across launch, on-orbit deployment, and mission-life environments.
- Balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule in every design decision.
- Perform analysis - hand calculations, FEA, tolerance stack-ups, deployment dynamics - and validate predictions with test and on-orbit data.
- Define and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns, including vibration, thermal vacuum, deployment, and life testing; author procedures, acceptance criteria, and anomaly dispositions.
- Develop and maintain engineering drawings, models, and release documentation.
- Work directly on the factory floor with manufacturing and integration & test teams to iterate quickly and resolve build issues in real time.
- Troubleshoot hardware anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and implement design improvements.
- Support spacecraft integration & test, launch site operations, and on-orbit commissioning/anomaly response.
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience designing mechanisms or mechanical systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or high-performance hardware.
- Experience taking hardware from concept through build, integration, and test.
- Strong fundamentals in structural mechanics, kinematics, materials, and manufacturing processes.
- Proficiency with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo) and creating engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
- Proficiency with FEA tools (ANSYS, Nastran, or Abaqus) for mechanism load-path and dynamic problems.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Preferred Qualifications:- 10+ years of experience designing mechanisms or mechanical systems for spacecraft or high-performance flight hardware.
- Direct experience with hold-down and release mechanisms (HDRMs), solar array deployment systems, or other spacecraft deployables.
- Experience with pyrotechnic, non-explosive actuator (NEA), or other low-shock release devices.
- Hands-on prototyping and machining experience.
- Familiarity with spacecraft thermal environments and their effect on mechanism performance.
- Experience at a fast-moving, hardware-focused startup or early-stage spacecraft program.
Compensation and BenefitsThe salary range for this position is
$150,000 - $180,000 annually.
The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.- Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
- Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Paid time off
- 10 paid holidays per calendar year
- Paid parental leave
- Relocation assistance if applicable
- Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks
ITAR Requirements- Export Control Requirement: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.
DisclaimerThis job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Cowboy Space Corp.'s discretion.
