Mechanical Engineer, Payloads

The role

You will perform mechanical design, integration, and testing of payload hardware and supporting structures. You will work across spacecraft programs to develop flight-ready hardware from early design through launch.

What you will do

• Develop mechanical designs and 3D models for payload hardware and supporting components.
• Own mechanical payload integration from concept through design, manufacturing, assembly, and test.
• Define and manage mechanical interfaces between payloads and spacecraft subsystems.
• Perform structural analysis and hand calculations.
• Optimize designs for mass, manufacturability, assembly, reliability, and performance.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings, GD&T, and interface control documentation.
• Evaluate and select materials, fasteners, coatings, and manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with payload, structures, thermal, avionics, RF, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams.
• Work with manufacturing and suppliers to support hardware fabrication.
• Support hands-on assembly, integration, and testing of payload and spacecraft hardware.

Required qualifications

• U.S. Person status is required
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical hardware
• Proficiency in CAD software for 3D modeling and drafting (e.g., NX, SolidWorks)
• Strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals, including structural design, material selection, fasteners, and tolerance analysis
• Experience developing engineering drawings and applying GD&T
• Strong hands-on problem-solving skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Nice to have

• Experience designing mechanical hardware for spacecraft, satellites, aerospace, or other high-reliability systems
• Experience with payload mechanical design and spacecraft-level payload integration
• Experience taking hardware through the full development lifecycle from concept through manufacturing, integration, and test
• Experience with structural analysis, including hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA)
• Familiarity with aerospace manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, and additive manufacturing
• Experience with environmental testing, including vibration, shock, static, and thermal vacuum testing
• Experience supporting hands-on assembly and integration of flight hardware
• Experience with NX and Teamcenter
• Familiarity with ASME, NASA, or other aerospace design and qualification standards

Benefits

• Equity in Apex
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
• $100k life insurance at no cost
• Starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually
• 10 paid holidays
• 100% match on first 3% and 50% on next 2% 401(k) matching
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• Childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks
• Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings
• Dream desk setup

Before you apply

• U.S. Person status is required to access export controlled data
• Applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person or be able to obtain required export authorizations

About the company

Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. The company is a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding.