R&D Mechanical Engineer V, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

R&D Mechanical Engineer V, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

Posting Number req
27462

Department Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

Department Website Link https://lpl.arizona.edu/

Location Tucson Campus

Address Tucson, AZ USA

The University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory invites you to apply to the role of R&D Mechanical Engineer V. The successful candidate will serve as the senior mechanical engineering technical authority for NASA-sponsored spaceflight payload projects, potentially including camera systems, seismometers and spectrometers. They will direct highly complex mechanical design, interface development, integration, environmental verification, and delivery where engineering precedent may be limited.

They will establish technical direction, resolve novel engineering challenges, and influence multidisciplinary partners while coordinating project objectives, risk, quality, and documentation. The position supports the University of Arizona's research mission through advanced spaceflight engineering.

The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) is a world leader in space science, technology, and exploration, dedicated to advancing the fundamental understanding of the origin and evolution of the Sun, planetary bodies in our solar system, and planetary systems beyond. LPL achieves excellence through cutting‑edge research and teaching while mentoring the next generation of planetary scientists. As a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary community, LPL fosters an environment that advances science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research, education, and public engagement, where everyone can thrive.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services,

• Lead the mechanical design and development of spaceflight payload hardware, including structures, mounting approaches, mechanical layouts, and design documentation from concept through detailed design, fabrication, integration, verification, and test readiness.
• Establish engineering approaches, assess complex trade‑offs, resolve technical challenges, and ensure designs address payload requirements, spacecraft/lander interfaces, and launch and spaceflight environmental constraints.
• Establish innovative engineering approaches for highly complex, unprecedented technical challenges; evaluate trade‑offs and define design practices appropriate to novel scientific instrumentation.
• Develop mechanical integration and test plans for spaceflight hardware, including environmental verification consistent with NASA General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS) or applicable project‑specific standards.
• Lead assembly, alignment, fit checks, interface verification, environmental tests, and functional test configurations.
• Direct mechanical ground support equipment development, integration procedures, anomaly resolution, test readiness, post‑test assessments, and configuration control.
• Lead design, analysis, documentation, and verification of complex interfaces between University of Arizona‑developed payloads and externally developed spacecraft or instrument support systems.
• Provide technical inputs to Mechanical Interface Control Documents (MICDs) for delivered flight seismometer units.
• Define interface requirements, integration approaches, and…