Mechanical Engineer - Payload Integration

About Urban Sky: 

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup that pioneer utilization of the stratosphere and reimagines the way humans view and analyze the earth. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems, and the data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis. 

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment. 

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members. 

About The Role: 

Urban Sky is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join our Engineering team in Denver, CO. This role will be focused on enabling and supporting the integration of customer and partner payloads with our high-altitude balloon systems. You will play a key role in ensuring that a diverse range of payloads can be reliably flown and operated in the stratosphere by developing tailored mechanical solutions, mounting systems, and environmental accommodations. Working closely with a multidisciplinary team, you’ll help our partners achieve mission success by providing technical expertise and engineering support throughout the payload lifecycle—from planning and design to flight and recovery. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Design and implement mechanical integration solutions that enable diverse customer and partner payloads to operate effectively on Urban Sky’s high-altitude balloon systems. 

• Collaborate with external teams to understand payload requirements and develop custom mounting, interface, and environmental accommodations to ensure safe and reliable stratospheric deployment. 

• Conduct environmental and functional testing of integrated payload systems to validate performance under extreme conditions, including thermal, vibration, and low-pressure testing. 

• Develop pre-flight verification and post-flight data validation processes to ensure mission assurance and payload data integrity. 

• Analyze in-flight performance of integrated payloads to identify improvements in mechanical interfaces and operational procedures. 

• Work closely with cross-functional internal teams—including electrical, systems, and operations engineering—to support seamless end-to-end payload integration and mission success. 

• Interface with suppliers and external partners to source high-quality mechanical components and integration hardware tailored to customer payload needs. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Instrumentation, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent experience. 

• 3-10+ years of experience in mechanical design, testing, and integration of instrumentation or similar systems. 

• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., OnShape, AutoCAD, or Fusion 360) for designing complex mechanical systems.  

• Proficiency in data acquisition systems and sensor technologies (e.g., temperature, pressure, humidity, optical sensors). 

• Experience with environmental testing, including thermal, vibration, and vacuum conditions. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data. 

• Strong knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes, including machining, 3D printing, and injection molding. 

• Skillful in diagnosing issues and implementing effective solutions. 

• Willing to travel to partner locations for collaborative workflows. 

• Willing to travel to launch locations to demonstrate the successful integration of payloads 

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills: 

• Experience in aerospace or environmental monitoring applications. 

• Familiarity with integrating mechanical systems with electronics and sensors.  

• Knowledge of stratospheric or high-altitude conditions and their impact on mechanical systems. 

• Hands-on experience in designing enclosures and thermal management systems for extreme environments. 

• Great people skills. 

• Experience inte