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Mechanical Engineer | Solar Array Deployable Structures

Cowboy Space Corporation· Spacecraft Engineering
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Kent, Washington$100k - $300kFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Mechanical Engineer responsible for the deployment mechanism and structural design of large solar array deployable structures, owning hardware end-to-end from concept through ground testing and on-orbit deployment in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment.

Responsibilities

  • Own the design of the deployable structure’s mechanism from concept through flight, including actuation, deployment sequencing, latching and locking at full extension, and stowage and launch restraint.
  • Design and analyze the deployment kinematics, actuation, synchronization, and end-of-travel latching, and quantify deployment reliability, force/torque margin, and jam resistance.
  • Design mechanism details—bearings, guides, drives, dampers, and release devices—with attention to tribology, space-rated lubrication, and repeatable, low-shock deployment.
  • Perform structural analysis of the deployed and stowed structure—deployed stiffness and fundamental frequency, buckling and stability, strength, and thermal distortion—and design to meet stiffness and pointing requirements.
  • Design the interfaces to the solar array and its supporting hardware, balancing structural stiffness against operational loads and dynamics.
  • Design, build, and operate ground testbeds and dev rigs, including gravity-offload deployment fixtures for a very large structure, to characterize the mechanism, validate deployment, and de-risk the flight design.
  • Develop and execute deployment, life/cycle, structural static/modal, vibration, thermal-vacuum, and qualification/acceptance test programs to verify flight-worthiness.
  • Drive design-for-manufacturing of long, precision structural elements—tolerances, straightness, and repeatability—and work with suppliers to ensure high-quality, scalable production.
  • Author and maintain drawings, interface control documents, analysis reports, test procedures, and release/configuration records.
  • Diagnose and resolve mechanism and structural anomalies during integration and test, applying root-cause analysis and implementing corrective actions.
  • Partner with structures, GN&C, power, avionics, propulsion, and software teams to ensure the array integrates seamlessly within the overall spacecraft architecture, including low-frequency flexible-body dynamics.
  • Embrace a fast-paced development environment, driving quick design cycles, hardware builds, and test campaigns to accelerate the program schedule.

Qualifications

  • BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
  • 3+ years of experience designing and analyzing deployable mechanisms and/or precision mechanical hardware in aerospace or other high-performance environments
  • Strong mechanism fundamentals: kinematics, actuation, springs and stored energy, motors and drives, bearings, latches, tribology, and deployment reliability
  • Solid structural fundamentals: stiffness, buckling and stability, strength, and structural dynamics of slender or lightweight structures
  • Hands-on experience building and testing mechanisms, including deployment testing
  • Experience taking hardware from concept through build and test, with hands-on integration and test experience
  • Proficiency with CAD (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, or similar)
  • Experience working in fast-paced, hardware-focused development environments

Skills

Required:Deployable mechanism designStructural analysisGround testbed designCAD

Benefits

  • Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan
  • Paid time off
  • 10 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Paid parental leave
  • Relocation assistance if applicable
  • Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks
Last updated Sep 6, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Cowboy Space Corporation

Powering Humanity From the High Frontier

Cowboy Space Corp. is building a power grid in outer space for artificial intelligence. It is an integrated system of satellites and rockets to haul high-performance compute and optical data transmission down from Low Earth Orbit. Earth's energy grid can't run at the pace of AI. We can.

Orbital Data CentersAI compute in spacesolar-powered data centersLow Earth Orbitpower grid in space
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