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Staff Mechanical Engineer - Solar Mechanisms & Deployables

Muon Space· Engineering - Hardware
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Hybrid (San Jose, CA)$190k - $216kfull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Staff Mechanisms Design Engineer focused on deployable and actuated mechanical systems for spacecraft (solar array deployables, SADA, HDRMs, hinges, dampers, latches). Owns requirements, design, qualification, and on-orbit operation with emphasis on reliability and single-point-failure management. Hybrid work on-site in San Jose, CA three days per week.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the technical owner for deployable and actuated mechanisms — SADA, HDRMs, hinges, dampers, and latches — setting architecture and design direction across missions
  • Lead trades on deployable architectures and release-device technologies, making sound make vs. buy decisions that balance reliability, cost, and schedule
  • Lead the design, analysis, and optimization of deployment mechanisms, actuators, and release devices, including torque/force margin, structural, kinematic, tribological, and dynamic analyses
  • Own single-point-failure management for deployables, including margin, redundancy, and test-coverage strategy
  • Own mechanism qualification campaigns, including deployment testing with gravity offload, lifecycle testing, and environmental test (random vibration, TVAC, shock)
  • Define and champion mechanism design standards and best practices that scale across the organization
  • Mentor mechanical engineers and lead rigorous design reviews (PDR, CDR, MRR)
  • Drive mechanisms from prototype builds to constellation-scale production, applying lessons learned from builds, tests, and on-orbit operations

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field
  • 10+ years of experience designing, building, and testing mechanisms or deployable hardware, including 5+ within the space industry
  • Deep expertise in one or more of: solar array deployables, SADA, HDRMs/release devices, hinges, dampers, or precision mechanisms
  • Strong command of mechanism analysis: torque/force margin, kinematics, bearings/tribology, preload, and stiffness
  • Proven track record of qualifying single-point-failure mechanisms, including deployment, life, and environmental testing
  • Expert-level command of CAD (SolidWorks preferred), GD&T, drawings, BOMs, and tolerance/mass/torque budgets
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges each week

Skills

Required:Mechanism design and analysisSingle-point-failure managementQualification and testing of mechanismsCAD and GD&TLeadership and communication

Benefits

  • equity grant
  • medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401k retirement plan
  • short & long term disability and life insurance
  • three weeks paid vacation
  • 12 paid holidays
  • unlimited sick time
  • paid parental leave
Last updated Sep 19, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Muon Space

The Mission Foundry — designing, building, and operating high-performance satellite constellations for National Security, civil, and commercial customers.

Design, build, and operate mission-optimized satellite constellations with Muon Space.

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