New Graduate Engineer, Mechanical

About the Role

As a mechanical design engineer within the satellite vehicle engineering organization, you will solve complex structural, thermal, and electromechanical problems on space-grade hardware. You will own the full design lifecycle from ideation, design, and test, through to manufacturing and large-scale production. You will partner with cross-functional engineering disciplines to democratize internet access globally. Applicants will be considered broadly for all teams and matched based on technical fit, team need, and candidate preference.

Sub-teams include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanisms Team: End-to-end electromechanical design for actuators, reaction wheels, torque rods, solar arrays, etc.
• Space Lasers Team: Design opto-mechanical assemblies for Space Lasers and other optical payloads in partnership with the optical team.
• Bus Avionics Team: Design for mechanical avionics modules, thermal, structural, new component selection, harnessing, and integration to satellites, in partnership with Bus electrical engineers.
• Structural Team: Design and analysis of the satellite primary structure, including chassis, ribs, rails, and propulsion tanks.
• Solar Arrays Team: Design work for flight arrays, test and production machine design, and thermal/electrical/material interfaces.
• Battery Packs Team: Mechanical design, thermal, and electrical analysis on in-house battery packs, emphasizing mass-efficient and runaway-resistant architectures.

Key Responsibilities

• Own hardware from conceptual design through high volume production and on-orbit operation for the Starlink constellation.
• Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system-level optimization.
• Rapidly iterate on designs and analysis to inform high-level systems trades and steer overall product direction.
• Drive holistic DFM to create elegant designs with a focus on piece part and process count reductions, error proofing at every step of fabrication and integration, and consistent performance and production metrics.
• Establish an efficient product lifecycle from supply chain through final integration, balancing cost, complexity, and quality.
• Work closely with partner teams to design and realize an efficient in-house production line.
• Perform environmental and performance testing on hardware to validate analysis and demonstrate compliance to design criteria.
• Own product delivery timeline from conception, design, assembly, to launch.
• Demonstrate extreme ownership of product outcomes at every stage of development and production.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or another engineering/STEM discipline.
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages.
• 1+ years of professional experience with mechanical/electromechanical design, analysis, testing, and/or manufacturing (internships/co-ops and club projects can apply).
• Graduating in the class of 2026 or 2027.
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Hands-on project/mechanical design experience with complex mechanical systems, preferably as a team lead of a university competitive engineering club.
• Proficient in 3D CAD (NX preferred).
• Solid understanding and application of GD&T.
• Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems.
• Prior ownership of a complex component or assembly from initial design through high-volume production ramp.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

Specific preferred skills and experience may depend on the team and may include:

• Knowledge of and experience in selecting materials, manufacturing methods, and surface treatments for mechanical components.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages.
• Experience working with PCB designers and exposure to PCB layout and PCBA mechanical design.
• Experience with design of experiments, statistical process control, and process qualification.
• Specific expertise applicable to any of the sub-teams.