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Mechanical Engineer (Rotary Actuators) - Space Solar Verified today

Starpath Robotics · Hawthorne, CA · Electronics · first seen 2026-07-16
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The Role

As a Mechanical Engineer focused on rotary actuators, you will design, analyze, and qualify the rotating mechanisms that deploy and orient Starlight's solar arrays. You own solar array drive assemblies, deployment hinges, latches, and gimbals from concept through detailed design, analysis, build, test, and flight qualification.

Responsibilities

  • Own rotary actuator designs from concept through detailed design, analysis, build, test, and flight, including solar array drive assemblies, deployment hinges, dampers, latches, and gimbals
  • Select and integrate motors, gearheads, bearings, slip rings, and position sensors; size drivetrains for required torque, speed, lifetime, and backlash
  • Perform mechanism analysis including torque margin, friction budgets, stiffness, backlash, jitter, and life via hand calculations and FEA
  • Specify lubrication, materials, and surface treatments suited to vacuum, thermal cycling, and radiation; manage tribology and wear over mission life
  • Design and execute mechanism qualification and acceptance testing: functional, life, vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, and torque-margin testing
  • Partner closely with electrical, controls, and avionics teams on motor drive electronics, feedback sensing, and closed-loop control
  • Work with manufacturing to design for assembly, alignment, and rate production of precision rotating hardware
  • Simplify mechanisms, reduce part count, and eliminate unnecessary complexity

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering discipline
  • 1+ years of mechanism, actuator, or precision mechanical design experience (internship and academic experience applicable)
  • Proficiency with 3D CAD and ability to produce detailed engineering drawings with GD&T

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree in an engineering discipline
  • Hands-on experience designing rotary mechanisms for flight or high-reliability applications
  • Proficiency selecting and integrating brushless DC motors, harmonic drives, planetary gearheads, and precision bearings
  • Familiarity with space-rated tribology, dry-film and wet lubricants, bearing preload, and life testing under vacuum and thermal cycling
  • Experience with slip rings, twist capsules, or rotary power/signal transfer devices
  • Working knowledge of motor drive electronics, encoders/resolvers, and closed-loop position or velocity control
  • Experience executing mechanism qualification campaigns including life test, thermal-vacuum, vibration, and shock
  • Familiarity with aerospace mechanism standards such as NASA-STD-5017 or AIAA mechanisms guidance
  • Exposure to solar array deployment systems, SADAs, antenna pointing mechanisms, or similar spacecraft mechanisms
  • Exposure to aerospace, space, or high-reliability hardware environments

Employment Details

  • Location: Hawthorne, CA
  • Employment Type: Full-time
  • Travel: Occasional
  • Department: Starlight Solar

Export Control

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.