Senior Spacecraft Mechanisms Engineer

Power the future of Space at Star Catcher

Star Catcher is building the first energy grid in space to power the orbital economy.

Today's spacecraft must generate all of their own power, which caps what they can do and how long they can operate. But what if they could "plug" into a grid, the way buildings do on Earth? Instead of cables and outlets, Star Catcher is building the technology to wirelessly beam energy to spacecraft's existing solar panels when and where they need it.

Be an early member of a team building an entirely new energy infrastructure at scale to power the next frontier.

Star Catcher Industries, Inc., located in Jacksonville, Florida, has an opportunity for a Senior Spacecraft Mechanisims Engineer to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, its orbital power grid. As a subject matter expert (SME), the ideal candidate will bring extensive experience with all phases of the spacecraft mechanism development process, including mechanism architecture, actuator and drivetrain selection, torque margin analysis, deployment kinematics, life and thermal vacuum testing, and flight qualification.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the spacecraft mechanism architecture, including hinges, booms, dampers, latches, and synchronization hardware.
• Define requirements for hold-down and release mechanisms, including release device selection, preload sizing, and separation shock allocation.
• Lead the design of pointing gimbals, and set their actuation, range, accuracy, and resolution requirements.
• Establish torque and force margin practices across worst-case friction, thermal, and end-of-life conditions, and approve margins for flight.
• Direct deployment kinematics and multibody dynamics analysis to verify sequencing, rates, latch-up, and induced loads on the spacecraft.
• Define material, bearing, and lubricant selection for vacuum compatibility, and set handling, cleanliness, and outgassing controls.
• Own mechanism development, qualification, and life test campaigns in ambient and thermal vacuum conditions.
• Support fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) analysis and implementation of mechanism components.
• Support the systems engineering team in writing detailed requirements for mechanism functionality and the methods for verification.
• Serve as the technical focal point for mechanisms across mechanical design, structures, opto-mechanical, avionics, and manufacturing.
• Create technical documentation for proposals, design reviews, and test reports which demonstrate rigor and expertise for the goal of executing on program deliverables and winning of new programs.
• Mentor engineers and technicians, and establish standards for mechanism design, analysis processes, documentation, and review practices for the discipline.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering field, and a minimum of 10 years of experience designing and qualifying spacecraft mechanisms.
• Demonstrated leadership of space systems development, including ownership of a mechanism from concept through qualification and flight.
• Experience sizing and selecting precision actuators and drivetrains, including stepper or brushless DC motors, harmonic drives, gearheads, and encoders.
• Experience selecting vacuum-compatible bearings and lubricants, and addressing tribology, cold welding, and outgassing in flight mechanism design.
• Experience with hold-down and release devices, including non-explosive actuators or pyrotechnic devices, and their qualification and shock environments.
• Proficiency producing CAD models and drawings with GD&T in Autodesk Inventor or equivalent.
• Experience performing torque and force margin analysis of spacecraft mechanisms per NASA-STD-5017 or equivalent.
• Creative problem-solving skills, with the capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with deployable structures such as booms, reflectors, or solar arrays, and the gravity offload techniques used to test them.
• Multibody dynamics or kinematic simulation of deployment events using Adams, Inventor Dynamic Simulation, or equivalent.
• Experience with pointing or gimbal mechanisms and their interaction with attitude control and pointing jitter.
• Familiarity with regulations and standards relevant to space missions and operations.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work in a multidisciplinary team setting while prioritizing tasks, multiple projects, and personnel.
• Ability to identify risks to the mechanism components of a spacecraft and assist in developing mitigation efforts, drafting changes to the requirements, or documenting requests for waivers.

Pay and benefits

Help us deploy and scale space infrastructure that will drive our utilization of space forward! We offer a highly competitive benefits package including access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, and paid parental leave, in addition to other benefits.

All offers of employment at Star Catcher are contingent upon results of a thorough background check and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.