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About Astro Digital

Astro Digital designs, builds, and operates a diverse range of small satellite systems supporting space-based turnkey missions for several business applications, including earth observation, communications, in-orbit demonstrations, risk reduction, science, and exploration. Astro Digital is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado with roughly 85 employees and infrastructure around the globe.

Position Summary

The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer is responsible for leading the mechanical design of satellite buses (50 kg to 500 kg), from proposals through to final integration prior to launch.

The ideal candidate is a passionate, self-motivated mechanical design engineer with deep experience in the design of space systems and components. They would be comfortable creating CAD parts and large assemblies, laying out entire bus structures with the input of structural engineers, working with thermal engineers to specify coatings, and creating manufacturing, inspection, and assembly drawings. The candidate should be comfortable with GD&T and tolerancing.

Bonus skills include experience with mechanism design and testing, including design calculations such as tolerance and torque margin analysis.

In addition to design responsibilities, the candidate would be able to assist more junior mechanical engineers in layout and component design, drawing creation, and mechanical test planning and execution.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related field
• 7-15 years of experience as a mechanical design engineer in the aerospace field
• Proficiency (>5,000 hrs) in one or more CAD systems (Solidworks or Onshape preferred)
• Comfort with version control / PDM systems and release processes
• Comfort performing design calculations and basic FEA analyses
• Experience working with vendors (machine shops, materials suppliers, test facilities) from discovery through purchase orders
• Self-motivated work ethic with a desire to learn new aspects of mechanical design for small satellites
• Willingness and ability to assist and shepherd less experienced engineers
• Good written, verbal, and virtual communication skills
• Based in the Denver metro area

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience designing satellite buses or payloads
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior engineers, including participating in reviews of designs and drawings
• Experience working concurrently with structural and thermal engineers to develop component and assembly designs
• Comfort producing proposal and public-facing renders of CAD models
• Experience supporting vibration tests (random vibration, sine sweep, sine burst, etc)
• Familiarity with standards such as NASA-STD-5020 (bolted joints), AIAA-S-114 (mechanisms), NASA-STD-5017 (mechanisms), NASA-STD-7000 (environments)
• Familiarity with SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare requirements
• Possesses a solid understanding of thermal environments and effects
• Experience with 3D printing - simple FDM printers as well as more exotic materials (metals, high-temp engineering materials)

Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance options, 401k plan, 10 floating holidays, 5 sick days, and 3 weeks of PTO per year.

This position requires access to export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology, software, and services. U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 22 CFR §120.15 and 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3) is required.

Job Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $115 – 145k/year

Location: Hybrid (3 days/wk onsite) in Littleton, CO