Mechanical Design Engineer - Small Satellite

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

The Aerospace Corporation’s Experiment Lab, xLab, develops prototypes, instruments, pathfinders, and demonstration systems to address our customers’ hardest problems at the speed of need. We engage with our customers to conceptualize innovative solutions and deliver impactful products for ground and space and everything in between. We are looking for engineers with a passion for design, a commitment to teamwork and a desire to help xLab make a difference to today’s challenges.  

The team is currently seeking a Small Satellite Mechanical Design Engineer to support small satellite payloads and spacecraft subsystems. The position offers the opportunity for a creative individual to innovate in a fast-paced instrument development environment where direct access to and mentoring by senior staff are provided to accelerate the learning process. This full-time position will be a hybrid work model with some onsite work required in El Segundo, CA.   

What You’ll Be Doing 

• S/he will create detailed mechanical Small Satellite designs with CAD modeling spanning concept design and all phases of the development cycle 

• Lead development and system integration of custom payloads

• Balance the level of mechanical modeling fidelity and analysis consistent with project requirements and schedule constraints 

• You will review Small Satellite mechanical designs and drawings for compliance with mission requirements as well internal design criteria (examples include ease of assembly/disassembly, tolerance specification, and adequate access is provided for mechanism testing in the final assembled configuration) 

• You will inspect and fit check of machined parts for tolerance and specification compliance 

• Compose and manage bill of materials (BOM) 

• Quote and track progress of ordered and fabricated parts 

• Testing of mechanical sub-assemblies and fully integrated Small Satellites

• Assesses project requirements, breaks projects into tasks, and works with Project Managers to determine scope of work to meet project schedule milestones ​

• Driving failure analysis and design of experiments to reach design solutions and corrective actions 

What You Need to be Successful  - Engineering Specialist

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent

• Six or more years of experience in mechanical design in the space or related industry 

• Experience with CAD design software, SolidWorks preferred 

• Configuration management of detailed CAD models

• Seek opportunities to continuously improve Small Satellite mechanical reliability and modularity 

• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off-business hours to support customer needs, approximately 10% (as required, domestic travel)

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

How You Can Stand Out 

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Advanced degree in a STEM field or equivalent is preferred

• Five or more years of experience in part design, mechanism design, fabrication, and assembly/integration is highly desirable

• Leading independent projects or s