Scientist, Mechanical Engineer; Space Mechanisms : max

Job Overview

Job Title: Scientist, Mechanical Engineer (Space Optical Mechanisms) :
Sign-on bonus ($50K max)

Job Code: 39051

Location: Wilmington, MA

Schedule: 9/80 (Every other Friday off)

Relocation: Assistance available to qualified applicants

Sign-On Bonus: Up to $50K may be included as part of the offer package

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. The role involves design, development, analysis, and manufacturing tasks on complex mechanical hardware for precision space structures and mechanisms in a program team environment.

In this role the candidate will:

• Design high-precision and complex space opto‑mechanical telescope hardware as part of an Integrated Product Team (IPT), including machined components, composite structures, deployable mechanisms, opto‑mechanical support structures, bearings, capital tooling, fixturing, and launch mechanisms.
• Leverage high reliability, flight‑proven, heritage design concepts to produce high quality designs within aggressive timelines.
• 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), position sensors (encoders, resolvers, LVDTs, Hall effect), and springs.
• Calculate 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.
• Select 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 technical approach to meet assigned objective.
• Direct, coordinate and provide assistance to engineering team to meet assigned objectives.
• Prepare reports, formal documentation and presentation materials summarizing analysis results and present results to both external and internal groups, including leadership and customers (PDR, CDR, TIM).
• Establish educational and training goals for area of expertise and ensure those goals are achieved.
• Obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Security Clearance.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Control Systems, or related disciplines from an ABET‑accredited program and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 10 years of related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of related experience.
• 7+ years in CAD modeling and design tools.
• Prior or current experience with spaceflight mechanism applications.
• 5+ years of professional experience leading a multidisciplinary mechanical engineering team through system requirements, design, analysis, test, hardware build, delivery and launch.
• Professional experience with analysis methods (FEA and hand‑calculations) is required.

• Strong proficiency in design and 3D modeling of solids, surfaces, and assemblies (Creo, NX, Catia, Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor).
• Proficiency in analysis FEA tools such as FEMAP, MSC Nastran, and/or ANSYS.
• Experience with Halpin Engineering’s Orbis for bearing analysis.
• Experience with MATLAB for analysis automation and data processing.
• Proficiency in tolerance stack‑up analysis…