Spacecraft Mechanical Ground Support Equipment Engineer Verified today
Spacecraft Mechanical Ground Support Equipment Engineer
As a GSE design engineer at Astranis, you'll be responsible for designing, fabricating, and maintaining various ground support equipment, fixtures, and tooling for spacecraft assembly, test, lifting, and handling. You will manage the design and fabrication, and act as a key stakeholder in defining the mechanical integration flow of our vehicles through our factory. You will play a vital role in scaling our production rate safely and efficiently.
Your responsibilities
- Own the cradle-to-grave design, analysis, fabrication and commissioning of mechanical fixtures and tooling required for spacecraft assembly, integration, testing, lifting and handling.
- Manage the configuration, documentation and lifecycle of all ground support equipment using PLM/PDM systems.
- Define, trade, and develop concepts for tooling interfaces and operating procedures.
- Collaborate with design engineering and production to define fixture and tooling specifications, qualification plans, and introduce to production.
- Collaborate with external vendors and contractors during the design, fabrication, testing and commissioning phases of large-scale tooling.
- Perform mechanical analysis via hand calculations and FEA to ensure tooling meets stability, structural and safety requirements.
- Produce quick-turn or prototype tooling to unblock late-breaking production roadblocks.
- Develop operation, proof-testing, and preventative maintenance plans for all test fixtures and tooling.
Required qualifications
- Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline
- 2+ years professional experience in mechanical design, analysis and fabrication of hardware
- Hands-on experience with handling, lifting, or integration of large, complex assemblies
- Proficiency in 3D CAD and experienced in creating detailed drawing packages per ASME Y14.5
- Passion for hardware development, thriving in a fast-paced environment with hands-on design and development
- Strong cross-functional communication and organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail
- Ability to handle multiple tasks and shifting high-level priorities
Bonus qualifications
- Familiarity with industry safety and structural design standards such as AISC-360, ACI-318, the Aluminum Design Manual (ADM), AWS-D1.1 & D1.2, NASA-STD-5005, ASME B30 (Rigging/Lifting), or OSHA regulations
- Experience using FEA software (e.g. Ansys, Nastran, Femap) for static and dynamic structural loading
- Experience with automation, pneumatics, hydraulics or basic controls
- Creative, passionate problem solver that thrives in fast-paced, autonomously-driven, and demanding design and integration campaigns
- Experience designing ground support equipment for aerospace applications or applications of similar scale
Compensation and benefits
Base salary: $110,000 to $145,000 USD
Compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.
Legal requirements
U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required. To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).