Spacecraft Mechanical Ground Support Equipment Engineer

Astranis
San Francisco, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for mechanical engineers who design and manage aerospace tooling and fixtures, with experience in large-scale hardware integration and a focus on safety and efficiency.

Best fit for

  • Mechanical engineers with hands-on experience in aerospace tooling and integration processes
    — “handling, lifting, or integration of large, complex assemblies”
  • Candidates who can manage tooling lifecycle and documentation using PLM/PDM systems
    — “Manage the configuration, documentation and lifecycle of all ground support equipment using PLM/PDM systems”
  • Individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments and can handle shifting priorities
    — “Ability to handle multiple tasks and shifting high-level priorities”

Things to consider

  • U.S. citizenship or residency is required due to space technology export regulations
    — “U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required”
  • The role demands a high level of attention to detail and meticulous documentation
    — “meticulous attention to detail”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with mechanical analysis and FEA software in your resume and interview
    — “Perform mechanical analysis via hand calculations and FEA”
  • Showcase your ability to define and develop tooling interfaces and procedures
    — “Define, trade, and develop concepts for tooling interfaces and operating procedures”
  • Emphasize collaboration with external vendors during tooling development phases
    — “Collaborate with external vendors and contractors during the design, fabrication, testing and commissioning phases”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • design, fabrication, and maintenance of ground support equipment
  • collaboration with design engineering and production
Typical background
mechanical engineering degree2+ years professional experience in mechanical design

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical Engineering3D CADASME Y14.5FEAHand Calculations

Preferred

Industry Safety StandardsAutomationPneumaticsHydraulics

Stack & domain

3D CADASME Y14.5FEAAnsysNastranFemapCross-functional CommunicationOrganizational SkillsAttention To DetailSpacecraftSatelliteMechanical Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Astranis via Greenhouse

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. 

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Tooling Engineer - Ground Support Equipment (GSE) 

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 not only manage the design and fabrication, but also act as a key stakeholder in defining and enabling the mechanical integration flow of our vehicles through our factory. You will play a vital role in scaling our production rate safely and efficiently. 

Role

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.

Requirements

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

A passion for hardware development, thriving  in a fast-pace environment and hands-on design and development

Strong cross-functional communication and organizational skills, with a meticulous attention to detail

Ability to handle multiple tasks and shifting high-level priorities

Bonus 

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

Strong sense of accountability, integrity, and team focus with extensive multitasking and organizational experience

Creative, passionate problem solver that thrives in fast-paced, autonomously-drive, and demanding design and integration campaigns

Experience designing ground support equipment for aerospace applications or applications of similar scale

What we offer: 

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your 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.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.Base Salary$110,000—$145,000 USDU.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))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.

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Source: Astranis careers (Greenhouse)

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