Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer (Senior)

The role

You will own the design, analysis, and development of critical mechanical hardware for spacecraft. You will take designs from initial concept through qualification, production, integration, and flight.

What you will do

• Own the mechanical design and development of spacecraft structures, subsystems, and components from concept through flight.
• Develop complex 3D CAD models, assemblies, and detailed engineering drawings for flight hardware.
• Perform structural analysis using FEA and hand calculations to validate designs.
• Drive design trades and optimize hardware for mass, structural performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
• Define material, manufacturing process, and finish selections for spaceflight hardware.
• Create and release production-ready drawings using GD&T and applicable engineering standards.
• Partner with electrical, thermal, propulsion, manufacturing, quality, and systems engineering teams.
• Work with manufacturing and technicians to support hardware builds and iterate designs.
• Lead mechanical hardware through assembly, integration, qualification, and environmental testing.
• Analyze test results and hardware failures to determine root cause and drive corrective changes.

Required qualifications

• U.S. Person status is required due to access to export-controlled data.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in mechanical design and hardware development.
• Demonstrated experience owning complex mechanical hardware from concept through design, manufacturing, assembly, and test.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD and engineering drawings.
• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, FEA, and hand calculations.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T and engineering drawing standards.
• Experience designing for aerospace manufacturing processes and materials, including machined, sheet metal, composite, or additively manufactured components.
• Experience supporting hardware through environmental qualification and acceptance testing.
• Strong engineering judgment and ability to independently solve ambiguous, complex technical problems.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative hardware development environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to have

• Experience designing spacecraft structures, mechanisms, payload hardware, or other spaceflight mechanical systems.
• Experience with vibration, shock, static load, and thermal vacuum testing.
• Experience with spacecraft AIT and resolving hardware issues directly on the production floor.
• Experience leading design reviews and providing technical mentorship to other engineers.
• Familiarity with ASME, ASTM, NASA, or other relevant aerospace standards.
• Experience with NX preferred

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% of 401(k)
• 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

Before you apply

• U.S. Person status is required due to access to export-controlled data.
• Applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person (citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee) 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.