K2 Space Senior Satellite Mechanical Engineer (Structures) at K2 Space with ownership over mechanical elements of space environment payloads including optical payloads. Focuses on structural design, thermal analysis, and hardware realization.
Responsibilities
K2's plan doesn't stop at satellite buses. By operating our own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space, K2 is uniquely positioned to design, test, and deploy-at-scale ambitious optical payloads in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space on unprecedented timelines. The satellite bus is the platform - the payloads are the mission.
In your first 6 months, you will define mechanical and optomechanical requirements, create initial concepts and trades, perform preliminary and detailed analysis, define development test campaigns, and produce development hardware. In your first year, you will validate your designs through prototype iterations and build and qualify flight hardware. In your first two years you will fly your hardware in space while directly supporting production and integration.
Take satellite mechanical and optical hardware from conceptual design through analysis, prototyping, flight manufacturing, and qualification to on-orbit operations in order to support internal and external customer needs.
Own structural, electronics thermal heatsinking, and lens mounting design and implementation for subsystems at the intersection of mechanical, optical, and electrical.
Perform hardware trades that steer both sub-system and top-level product direction
Lead subsystem design reviews from kickoff through qualification and beyond
Drive hardware development, including hands-on assembly and alignment, development testing (vibration, thermal-vac, modal), analysis correlation, and follow-on hardware iterations
Collaborate with a cross-functional team – structures, optical, thermal, electrical, GNC, metrology, and manufacturing - to establish product requirements, company processes, and best practices for hardware design and manufacturing
Continually own and refine sub-system deliverable schedules throughout development and production
Qualification
Bachelor's degree in mechanicalProficiency with Siemens NX CADExperience designingIndependent and self-motivated mindset
Required
Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, or other relevant engineering discipline
4+ years of experience in mechanical or optomechanical design and analysis, with a mechanical-heavy background
Proficiency with 3D CAD and software for detailed part and assembly design
Proficiency with finite element analysis software for modal, stress, and thermo-structural analysis
Hands-on experience with prototyping and testing
Preferred
Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD
Experience designing, building, and testing mechanical assemblies for aerospace applications (satellite mechanical systems, payloads, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and/or aircraft structures and mechanisms)
Demonstrated proficiency in the principles of mechanical design, materials, and structural dynamics, and failure modes of complex mechanical systems in space environments and operations
Experience with the practical application of GD&T, including tolerancing of precision mechanical interfaces
Experience with precision and optical design elements such as flexure design, optical bonding, and kinematic mount design for space environments, and addressing optical stability, mounting deformation, thermal effects, and jitter
Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test hardware from a blank canvas, including troubleshooting and iterating designs based on downstream feedback
Independent and self-motivated mindset, with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
