Scientist, Mechanical Engineer; Space Mechanisms

Scientist, Mechanical Engineer (Space Mechanisms)

Job Title:

Scientist, Mechanical Engineer – Mechanisms

Job Code:
32641

Job Location:

Wilmington, MA

Job Schedule:

9/80 (Every other Friday off!)

Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants.

L3

Harris is seeking a highly skilled and dynamic senior Mechanical Engineer to support customer‑funded programs and internal research efforts within our Space, Superiority and Imaging Division. Our solutions serve a broad array of government, civil and commercial customers by enhancing information superiority, protecting property and human life, and providing actionable data. We specialize in high‑reliability airborne and space‑based remote sensing payloads, active and motion imaging, data processing, exploitation and dissemination.

The Mechanical Engineer will perform design, development, analysis and manufacturing tasks on complex mechanical hardware including precision space structures and mechanisms in a program team environment. Responsibilities include requirements definition, concept generation, material and finish selection, trade studies, sensitivity studies, detailed design, tolerance analysis, design documentation and Bill of Materials management, as well as assembly, integration and testing.

• Design high‑precision and complex space opto‑mechanical telescope hardware as part of an Integrated Product Team (IPT). Hardware includes machined components, composite structures, deployable mechanisms, opto‑mechanical support structure, bearings, capital tooling and fixturing, launch mechanisms.
• Leverage high reliability, flight‑proven, heritage design concepts to produce high‑quality designs within an aggressive timeline.
• Lead and participate in technical team reviews and technical review boards.
• Interface with outside suppliers/customers and other engineering disciplines to drive designs to closure (Structural, Thermal, Electrical, Manufacturing, Integration and Testing, Quality, Configuration Management).
• Present design details at program reviews to customers and independent reviewers.
• Develop and perform testing to show proof‑of‑concept and/or qualification of new designs.
• Support production operations with design of tooling, test equipment and shop aids.
• Provide regular status updates to Program Management and Project Engineers on cost and schedule performance.

• Responsible for establishing key performance error budgets.
• Identify and select mechanism components such as ball bearings, motors (servo, stepper, limited‑angle torque, solenoids, voice coils) and position sensors (encoders, resolvers, LVDTs, Hall effect).
• Adept at calculating torque margin per AIAA S‑114A‑2020 and/or NASA‑STD‑5017.
• Design launch lock solutions for mechanisms, particularly for low shock and FOD containment.
• Comfortable selecting lubricants for spaceflight applications near sensitive optics.
• Design for vacuum environments over broad temperature ranges while maintaining cleanroom cleanliness.
• Use proven, reliable design concepts to create high‑quality new designs in aggressive timelines.
• Define and establish the technical approach to meet assigned objectives.
• Direct, coordinate and provide assistance to engineering team to meet assigned objectives.
• Prepare reports, formal documentation and presentation materials summarizing analysis results and present to external and internal groups, including leadership at PDR, CDR and TIM.
• Establish educational and training goals for area of expertise and ensure those goals are achieved.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Control Systems or related ABET‑accredited program and a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience. Graduate degree with minimum 10 years of experience or 16 years in lieu of a degree.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• 8+ years in CAD modeling and design tools.
• Prior or current experience with space‑flight mechanism applications, especially related to optical systems.
• 7+ years leading a multi‑disciplinary mechanical engineering team through system requirements, design, analysis,…