Senior Mechanism Simulation Engineer

About Us

Space Kinetic is a dual-use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. We are focused on creating an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the manufacturing/engineering teams to develop the innovative Whirlwind Payload design and analyze the corresponding flight hardware.
• Support the design team with detailed mechanisms simulations of the prototype and flight hardware.
• Assist with the development phases, conceiving and verifying the mechanism design, providing feedback to the CAD designs for manufacturing, and working closely with vendors to source components.
• Design the validation and verification (V&V) test that will drive the prototype design improvements and meet space operations mission requirements.
• Scale and optimize the mechanism designs to enhance the flight system performance.
• Conduct hardware validation and verification as well as flight hardware qualification tests.
• Evaluate static, dynamic, transient, shock, random and sine vibration as well as vibroacoustic and kinematics environments.
• Work closely with Structures, Thermal, GNC, Propulsion, manufacturing, and System Engineering functional teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in structural analysis for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or equivalent aerospace hardware.
• Experience in space vehicle structural load requirements across all mission phases: ground handling, transportation, launch/ascent, separation events, on-orbit operations, and disposal is highly desirable.
• Ability to understand mission concepts, trajectory, motion kinematics, and flight dynamics, and derive structural design limit loads and requirements.
• Understanding of design limit loads, calculate mechanical margins of safety utilizing applicable factors of safety per standards (NASA, DoD, ECSS, etc.).
• Experience with CAD and CAE packages (NASTRAN, FEMAP, ANSYS, SolidWorks, NX, Simcenter 3D, Vibroacoustic, Thermal Desktop, NX Motion, Amesim, etc.).
• Ability to develop mathematical models and perform simulations to calculate structural margins, kinematics simulations, and dynamics environments.
• Experience in designing and executing system and subsystem dynamics and kinematics testing of flight hardware, understanding test data acquisition, and adept at implementing design improvements based on test data.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Government Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degrees (Master’s or Ph.D.) in a similar discipline with corresponding technical expertise in linear, nonlinear, and motion dynamics analysis.
• Experience with space-rated structural mechanisms component design analysis and test.
• Robotics experience, particularly in simulating articulation and complex mechanisms.
• Experience working with rotating machinery.
• Hands-on experience in testing mechanical hardware for space operations.
• Passion for technology development of complex space operations.
• Demonstrated experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle system development.
• Experience in the proposal writing process for the acquisition of grants and contracts.
• Ability to build and maintain a network of talented individuals.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.

Location

The position is onsite in El Segundo, CA.

Benefits

• Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure
• Health and Wellness Stipend
• Commuter Benefits

Pay

Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate, and internal equity. Pay Range: $140,000 USD - $200,000 USD.

ITAR Requirements

This position is subject to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, Protected Individual as defined by law), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.