Senior Mechanisms Engineer

The role

The Senior Mechanisms Engineer will act as the responsible engineer for gimbal mechanism development on laser communications payloads. This role involves the full development lifecycle from conceptual design and analysis to procurement, integration, and qualification of precision pointing and tracking mechanisms.

What you will do

• Own the full development lifecycle of gimbal mechanisms for laser communications payloads
• Design precision gimbal assemblies including bearings, flexures, motors, encoders, and structural members
• Perform mechanism-level analysis including kinematics, stiffness, backlash, torque margin, thermal expansion, and bearing life modeling
• Define mechanism performance requirements and interface specifications
• Specify and procure precision components and own supplier relationships
• Develop and execute integration and verification procedures for flight hardware
• Define and execute qualification test plans including functional, life, vibration, shock, and thermal-vacuum testing
• Develop and maintain mechanism drawings, GD&T specifications, assembly procedures, and test reports
• Collaborate with controls engineers to support mechanism characterization and performance validation
• Participate in design reviews and system-level pointing and tracking trade studies

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience designing and developing precision mechanisms for flight hardware in aerospace or defense programs
• Experience designing gimbal mechanisms for laser communications, optical payloads, or antenna pointing systems
• Demonstrated experience as the technical owner of end-to-end mechanism development
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX, Solidworks, or equivalent) and engineering drawing/GD&T
• Experience with mechanism analysis including kinematics, stiffness, torque margin, and bearing life calculations
• Hands-on experience with flight mechanism integration, alignment, and functional testing in a lab environment
• Familiarity with precision components including angular contact bearings, brushless DC motors, and optical encoders
• Experience taking flight mechanisms through environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum)

Nice to have

• Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 8+ years of experience in precision flight mechanism development for space or defense programs
• Familiarity with fast steering mirrors or other precision beam-pointing devices
• Experience with mechanism lubrication strategies for space environments
• Familiarity with closed-loop control of gimbal mechanisms and interaction with pointing error budgets
• Experience with life and wear testing and reliability analysis for space mechanisms
• Hands-on experience building and qualifying flight hardware in a cleanroom environment

Benefits

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Daily lunch in the office
• Fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

Before you apply

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Departmen

About the company

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy using modular, scalable satellites. The company is based in San Carlos, CA.