Senior Mechanism Simulation Engineer

A New Paradigm For Space Operations.

Who We Are:

Space Kinetic is a cleared, venture-backed startup focused on addressing urgent national security priorities. Our goal is to deliver a suite of asymmetric capabilities for space superiority and missile defense leveraging our proprietary electromechanical deployment system, which enables the rapid deployment of low-cost payloads through space without firing a thruster. Space Kinetic is currently assembling its TRL-5 prototype. Our goal is to leverage this platform to provide the United States with a new tool for securing the space domain & catalyzing the emerging space economy.

What You'll Do:

The Senior Mechanism Simulation Engineer will be an integral member of the Mechanical Engineering team. The primary responsibilities include the design analysis and test of prototype and flight hardware from the proprietary innovative electromechanical payload of Space Kinetic's core technology to achieve our mission, the flight demonstration unit, within the next 2 years, and the full production payload facility. This role is pivotal and requires high fidelity structural and kinematics analyses experience aligned with the proper kinematics testing (functional and qualification), test data processing to inform all necessary design changes that will drive the development of our future space mission operations success.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with the manufacturing/engineering teams to develop the innovative Whirlwind Payload design and analyze the corresponding flight hardware.
• Support the design team with detailed mechanisms simulations of the prototype and flight hardware.
• Assist with the development phases, conceiving and verifying the mechanism design, providing feedback to the CAD designs for manufacturing, and working closely with vendors to source components.
• Design the validation and verification (V&V) test that will drive the prototype design improvements and meet space operations mission requirements.
• Scaling and optimizing the mechanism designs to enhance the flight system performance.
• Hardware validation and verification as well as flight hardware qualification tests.

What It Takes:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in structural analysis for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or equivalent aerospace hardware.
• Experience in space vehicle structural load requirements across all mission phases: ground handling, transportation, launch/ascent, separation events, on-orbit operations, and disposal, is highly desirable.
• Ability to understand mission concepts, trajectory, motion kinematics and flight dynamics, derive structural design limit loads and requirements a plus.
• Understanding of design limit loads, calculate mechanical margins of safety utilizing applicable factors of safety per standards (NASA, DoD, ECSS, etc.).
• Experience with CAD and CAE packages (NASTRAN, FEMAP, ANSYS, Solid Works, NX, Simcenter 3D, Vibroacoustic, Thermal Desktop, NX Motion, Amesim etc.) is necessary.
• Ability to develop mathematical models and perform simulations to calculate structural margins, kinematics simulations, dynamics environments.
• Experience in designing and executing system and subsystem dynamics and kinematics testing of flight hardware, understanding test data acquisition and adept at implementing design improvements based on test data.
• Evaluate static, dynamic, transient, shock, random and sine vibration as well as vibroacoustic and kinematics environments.
• Work closely with Structures, Thermal, GNC, Propulsion, manufacturing and System Engineering functional teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Government Security Clearance.

What We'd Love

• Advanced Degrees (Master's or Ph.D.) in similar discipline are highly desirable with corresponding technical expertise in linear, nonlinear and motion dynamics analysis.
• Experience with space-rated structural mechanisms component design analysis and test.
• Robotics experience, particularly in simulating articulation and complex mechanisms
• Experience working with rotating machinery
• Hands-on experience in testing mechanical hardware for space operations.
• Passion for technology development of complex space operations.
• Demonstrated experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle system development.
• Experience in the proposal writing process for the acquisition of grants and contracts.
• Ability to build and maintain a network of talented individuals. Prioritizes organizational and planning skills.

Where You'll Be:

• The position is onsite in El Segundo, CA.

What We Offer:

• Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure
• Health and Wellness Stipend
• Commuter Benefits

ITAR Requirements:
This position is subject to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, Protected Individual as…