Senior Mechanisms Engineer – Turbomachinery Verified today
The Role
K2 is deploying a 20-kW high-power spacecraft platform at scale across MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space. Active thermal control is critical to manage heat from high-power payloads, using pumped fluid loops built from fluid turbopumps, valves, accumulators, and instrumentation.
As Senior Mechanisms Engineer, Turbomachinery, you will define how K2 designs, analyses, manufactures, tests, integrates, and deploys precision turbomachinery for active thermal control systems. You own these mission-critical components from concept through integration and rate production.
Responsibilities
- Own turbopumps and turbomachinery mechanisms in the spacecraft active thermal control system, including architectural down-selection, design, and tolerancing
- Perform pump- and mechanism-specific analyses: rotor dynamics, bearings and seals, hydraulic performance, structural, and thermal-fluid
- Develop environmental test and qualification plans
- Create ground- and in-flight performance validation plans
- Evaluate supply chain and high-volume manufacturing trades
- Partner with thermal and platform architecture teams to scope the long-term pumped-fluid-loop roadmap and system performance requirements
- Collaborate with thermal, structures, avionics, and satellite bus teams to determine optimal operations and requirements for the pump and broader fluid loop
- Prepare design reviews to secure stakeholder buy-in across hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams
- Own and refine program deliverables and schedules throughout development and production
- Evaluate and select manufacturing equipment for specialty processes: impeller machining, rotating-assembly balancing, leak and flow test
- Partner with production to develop work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis
- 2+ years of experience in design and analysis of turbomachinery in harsh environments
- Experience with CAD or FEA software packages
Nice to Have
- Experience designing, building, and testing centrifugal or axial pumps for closed-loop thermal systems, including impeller geometry, volute/diffuser design, and hydraulic performance prediction