Spacecraft Mechanisms Engineer (Launch Restraint and Release Systems)

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a related field; advanced degree is a plus.
• 4+ years of spacecraft or satellite mechanism design experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing spaceflight hardware that has flown, including at least one deployment, launch restraint, or release mechanism.
• Preloaded joint design experience, including torque and preload relationships, preload retention, and margin against a recognized standard such as NASA-STD-5020.
• Hands-on deployment, vibration, and shock testing experience.
• Proficiency with structural finite element analysis (FEA) for modal, quasi-static, and random vibration analysis of stowed and deployed configurations.
• Experience modeling complex and preloaded joints.
• Working knowledge of launch and on-orbit load environments, factors of safety, and margin of safety reporting.
• Strong command of 3D CAD, detailed drawings, tolerance stack-ups, and GD&T (ASME Y14.5).
• Solid understanding of spaceflight materials, hardware, fabrication techniques, and design for manufacturability.
• Strong ability to communicate across engineering disciplines to make program-critical decisions.

• Experience delivering separation systems, deployables, release mechanisms, precision mechanisms, or other moving mechanical assemblies to flight.
• Experience owning spacecraft primary structure at the bus level, including launch vehicle interface hardware and rideshare accommodation.
• Experience with stacked or multi-body stowed configurations.
• Experience designing preloaded joints into sandwich panel structure, including potted inserts, hard points, and compression tubes.
• Experience with bonded joint design and analysis.
• Experience characterizing NEA-induced shock, including shock response spectrum analysis.
• Experience applying torque and force margin methodology per NASA-STD-5017, NASA-STD-5020, or equivalents.
• Experience designing gravity offload rigs.
• Familiarity with vacuum tribology, including lubricants, dry film coatings, galling, and cold welding.
• Familiarity with vibration test notching and force limiting.
• Familiarity with NASA verification standards, including the General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS), and/or SMC-S-016.
• Proficiency with Onshape (SolidWorks, NX, or Creo also valued).
• Proficiency with industry-standard FEA tools (e.g., Nastran/Femap, ANSYS, Abaqus).
• Proficiency with Python or MATLAB for analysis and data processing.
• Hands-on R&D background, including prototyping, testing, and iterating on novel mechanical concepts.
• Experience in a startup or fast-iteration hardware environment.

Engineer: $110,000 to $140,000

Senior Engineer: $140,000 to $170,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

In addition to the base salary, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options.

You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave.

You may also receive 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

To conform to U.S.

Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you 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 the required authorizations from the U.S.

of State.

Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Employment is based on merit, competence, and qualifications, and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.