Mechanical Engineer

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. is a space robotics company that seeks to make space accessible to the world. The company’s suite of lunar landers delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals. The company is also developing advanced space robotics capabilities such as terrain relative navigation, mobile robotics for lunar surface operations, and reliable computing systems for mission-critical applications. Originally spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, Astrobotic is pioneering affordable planetary access that promises to spark a new era of exploration, science, tourism, resource utilization, and mining. Astrobotic is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has a second location in Mojave, California.

Astrobotic Technology wants you to support our Mechanisms subsystem in our Landers & Spacecraft department. You will develop, build, test, and operate robotic systems for spacecraft. These will include (but are not limited to): gimbal pointing systems, articulated solar arrays, payload deployment systems, etc. You work will work across the entire product life cycle; proposal, design, prototype, analyze, test, and operation to decrease the cost to access the Moon. You will regularly report to the Mechanism Lead on progress.

Note: This position may be filled at multiple levels, including I, II, Senior, Principal, etc. depending on the candidate’s experience.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of engineers to develop passive and active mechanisms and robotic systems
• Perform trade studies through prototyping, analysis, and testing
• Design precision electro-mechanical systems
• Create and review CAD and drawings
• Hands on assembly of prototypes and flight hardware
• Provide real time mission operations support
• Create and execute test plans and document the results
• Develop tools, methods, and best practices as it relates to robotics and mechanisms
• Coordinate between internal teams, external partners, and vendors

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related fields
• 3+ years of relevant experience designing complex electro-mechanical systems
• Proficient in CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and lifecycle management tools
• Direct experience sizing motors and gear trains
• Mechanism design experience including bearings, gears, cams, springs, etc.
• Adaptable to a startup environment, able to self-start with minimal guidance
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with changing needs and requirements

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related fields
• 5+ years of relevant experience
• Experience developing robotics systems for aircraft, spacecraft or launch vehicles
• Experience across a wide range of fabrication and assembly techniques
• Knowledge of first order sizing calculations and FEA (ANSYS preferred)
• Experience with Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD) software
• Knowledge of how to analyze components to harsh environments (vibration, shock, vacuum, etc.)
• Experience with scripting languages for quick prototyping and proof of concepts

Salary Range: $80,000- $150,000

The base salary range represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The actual base salary offered for this position will depend on numerous factors including individual performance, business objectives, and the candidates professional experience.  Base salary is just one component of Astrobotic’s competitive total rewards strategy.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Applicants should be prepared to submit a writing sample and references.

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to contact@astrobotic.com.