Vehicle Mechanisms Engineer I

About the Role

To support our mission of changing the way rockets are built and flown, you will guide the design of Terran R mechanisms such as stage separation, payload deployment, aero control features and landing gear. To be successful, you will be working collaboratively with partner groups such as structures, avionics and fluids; and leverage our additive process and design freedom to design and build better products. The scope of work encompasses a full design cycle, including conceptualization, trade studies, design, analysis, manufacturing and testing of components.

Examples of Projects

• Design and test the Terran R stage separation or fairing deployment system
• Innovative conceptualization of the Terran R landing gear or aero surfaces actuation
• Definition of design criteria and subsystems requirements
• Review of static and dynamic load inputs, material properties & manufacturing process
• Conduct trade studies on different mechanism design concepts and present to leadership

Your mission will be to deliver on time and budget. You will be challenged to integrate as many subsystems within our printed primary structure, and support the development of our additive process to make this a reality. To achieve this, you will be working closely with our vehicle design, test and loads teams, as well as our additive and manufacturing teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide the design of Terran R mechanisms (stage separation, payload deployment, aero control features, landing gear).
• Collaborate with partner groups (structures, avionics, fluids).
• Leverage additive process and design freedom.
• Perform conceptualization, trade studies, design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing of components.
• Integrate subsystems within printed primary structure.
• Support the development of the additive process.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in engineering or related field.
• 0-2+ years of experience in a full-cycle design engineering role, including CAD, analysis, build, and test.
• Fundamental knowledge of kinematic synthesis, pneumatic/hydraulic actuation, mechatronics, and instrumentation.
• Fundamental knowledge of structures strength, stability, and fatigue failure modes.
• Technical problem-solving skills.
• Manufacturing processing knowledge.
• Materials and surface treatments knowledge.
• Hands-on hardware build experience.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated.
• Thrives in ambiguity.
• Able to lead own projects to completion.
• Experience from a fast-paced environment.
• Experience completing difficult projects with extreme ownership.
• Experience collaborating effectively with other key groups.

Hiring Timeline

• Candidates should have completed their degree requirements and be available to begin full-time employment within 30–60 days of applying.

Nice To Haves (Not Required)

• Experience with launch vehicle mechanisms.
• Experience with multi-body dynamics analysis.
• Experience in a demanding fast-paced development environment.
• Proficiency with design engineering tools such as NX, Teamcenter, Ansys, or Femap.
• Proficiency with engineering scripting languages such as Python or MATLAB.
• Hands-on experience with fabrication/prototyping such as machining, 3D printing, welding, woodworking.