CAD Design Engineer

A New Paradigm For Space Operations.

Who We Are:

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on.

Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

The CAD Design Engineer will design and build prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology to achieve our mission of a flight demo within the next 2 years in a fast-paced startup environment.

You will work with the Space Kinetic manufacturing/engineering team to finalize the current prototype's CAD design. This entails refining the design with detailed tolerancing to cover all prototype development phases, completing mechanism design, providing 2D CAD drawings for manufacturing, and working with vendors to source components. Following this, you will be responsible for enhancing the prototype design to achieve significant weight reduction, targeting a 30% decrease and increasing its stiffness and rigidity.

The next phase involves revising the mechanism designs to incorporate the latest advancements, minimizing the vibration within the system. Subsequently, the prototype will undergo a mechanical redesign to ensure it is suitable for manufacturing, with specific attention to tolerancing for plating processes.

Additionally, you will adapt the prototype for future tests, such as air bearing, zero-g flights, and T-Vac chamber testing. This includes making structural adjustments to facilitate testing in various orientations and environments while ensuring the design meets rigorous safety standards.

Finally, the role involves comprehensive ongoing analysis of test data to inform and drive necessary design changes throughout the project duration. We should move closer to a flight-ready prototype with each new design iteration.

• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 2 years of related experience.
• Proven experience in aerospace or mechanical engineering, specifically skilled in mechanical design and space mechanisms.
• Proficient in Solid Works, GD&T, Space Mechanism Design, Test Structure Design, Build for Manufacturing (experience in collaborating with machinists and experience designing for manufacturing), expertise in Vibration, Rotary Component Design, and Space Structural Design.
• Demonstrated Aerospace experience is essential.
• Experience in executing experiments in a laboratory or R&D environment, skilled in data collection and adept at implementing design modifications based on experimental outcomes.
• Ability to work with minimal direction or support and to learn quickly; strong analytical skills; creative and innovative thinking; detail-oriented; calm under pressure; commitment to follow-through; enthusiastic with a talent for motivating others; receptive to criticism and open to others' ideas; and effective in written communication.
• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder).
• Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance.