Senior​/staff Mechanical Engineer Hardware

Senior/staff Mechanical Engineer Lead end-to-end design and qualification of spacecraft mechanism drives for on-orbit use

Location:

Santa Barbara, California, United States

Compensation: $180, USD / year

Job Tags:
Hardware

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems, from sensors to spacecraft, that empower customers worldwide with unmatched access to critical information from space. Our mission is simple and ambitious: redefine space—for people, systems, and missions in every domain. Umbra's ecosystem operates through three business units:
Remote Sensing (the data), Space Systems (the components), and Mission Solutions (the platforms). Together, our teams develop capabilities that deliver persistent access, resilient performance, and mission-ready solutions, advancing U.S. space leadership while keeping the world safe and informed.

If you want to work on cutting edge space technology while maintaining the highest standard for innovation and mission ready performance, you belong here at Umbra.

We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated professional to become an integral part of our dynamic and multidisciplinary Space Systems engineering team as a Senior/Staff Mechanical Engineer. In this position, you will have the opportunity to contribute significantly to the design and development of innovative, next-generation space systems and mechanisms. The ideal candidate will possess a deep passion for designing, prototyping, building, and testing hardware, as well as demonstrable expertise in the area of rotating machinery.

This position is based on-site in our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office.

• Design and analyze spacecraft mechanisms, including:
  • Serve as the technical lead for spacecraft mechanisms and pointing systems, driving architecture decisions, technical trades, and risk reduction activities.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to derive and refine requirements.
  • Create motorization budgets.
  • Perform detailed design and component selection for encoders and signal routing/cable management.
  • Design for launch loads and stow/release behavior.
  • Create pointing budgets accounting for on-orbit behaviors.
• Work closely with the Chief Engineer and Systems Architects to optimize designs for performance and manufacturability.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to mechanical engineers across the organization.
• Create detailed design documentation, including drawings, design guides, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Own the design through the full build and test lifecycle, including:
  • Lead technical reviews, root-cause investigations, and resolution of complex hardware issues.
  • Conduct Qualification campaigns.
  • Develop test plans and equipment selection for verification of torque and torque margin and open loop and closed loop pointing performance.
  • Verify as built performance over temperature and in the presence of base disturbance.
• Develop and execute work instructions, test plans, and test reports.
• Partner with technicians and manufacturing engineers to troubleshoot and resolve hardware issues.
• Provide mechanical engineering support to other engineering teams as needed.
• Occasionally support launch and test campaigns outside regular hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Perform other duties as required.