Director of Engineering: Deployables; micro-satellites

Director of Engineering:
Deployables (micro-satellites)

This position leads the design, development, integration, testing, and production of ruggedized deployable micro-satellites compatible with Space Kinetic’s Whirlwind platform.

• Lead the design and development of Whirlwind‑compatible deployable micro-satellites from concept through flight.
• Lead technical design reviews and provide technical guidance across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Mentor engineers while establishing technical direction for deployable systems development.
• Design a ruggedized micro-satellite capable of surviving high G-loading Whirlwind operational environment.
• Perform engineering trade studies balancing performance, reliability, mass, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
• Generate detailed mechanical designs, production drawings, tolerance analyses, and engineering documentation.
• Perform structural, thermal, and mechanical analyses to verify design performance.
• Build prototypes, engineering development units, qualification hardware, and flight hardware.
• Plan and execute functional, deployment, vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, thermal cycle, and life‑cycle testing.
• Investigate hardware failures, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Work directly with manufacturing to improve producibility and resolve fabrication or assembly issues.
• Collaborate with suppliers to develop critical components and support supplier qualification.

This role requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to deliver results in a fast‑paced startup environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience developing complex aerospace or high-performance mechanical systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing precision mechanical assemblies.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through qualification or production.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as Siemens NX, Creo, Solid Works, or CATIA.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
• Experience with structural mechanics, material selection, and mechanical design principles.
• Excellent communication and technical leadership skills.
• Ability and willingness to obtain a security clearance.

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience developing spacecraft or launch vehicle hardware.
• Experience supporting environmental qualification testing including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, acoustic, and deployment testing.
• Familiarity with FEA tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or Nastran.
• Experience with prototype fabrication, machining, composites, sheet metal, and additive manufacturing.
• Experience supporting production and manufacturing scale‑up.
• Experience supporting government, national security, NASA, or commercial spaceflight programs.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup environment.
• Passion for advancing the commercial and National Security space industry.