Mechanical Engineer

$127,000 – $160,000

Full-time \| On-site \| Irvine, CA

Company Overview

My client develops and operates advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite systems that deliver persistent, reliable Earth observation capabilities for government, defense, and commercial customers. Their technology provides rapid-response imaging in all weather and lighting conditions, enabling missions ranging from national security to disaster response.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced

Mechanical Engineer

to lead the design and requirements development for mechanical interfaces, structures, and deployable for a remote sensing payload. This role will be responsible for all mechanical design elements, including structural components, assembly interfaces, and mission-critical MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment).

You will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure mechanical systems meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements for spaceflight.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and analyze mechanical structures for small- to mid-size space hardware.
• Ensure mechanical and structural designs meet thermal, vibration, and load requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve mass, volume, and manufacturability goals.
• Support environmental testing, including thermal vacuum (TVAC), vibration, and shock testing.
• Generate engineering documentation, CAD models, and drawings for flight hardware.
• Create and optimize manufacturing process.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
• 7\+ years of mechanical design experience for space-rated or high-reliability hardware
• Strong background in thermal analysis, material selection, and structural design/optimization
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with composite structures or advanced lightweight materials
• Familiarity with DFM, machining processes, and aerospace manufacturing practices
• Experience with FEM/FEA tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, or similar
• Experience supporting payload or spacecraft environmental testing campaigns