What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mechanisms Engineer position at Piper Companies?
Piper Companies is currently looking for a Mechanisms Engineer in Midland, TX to work for a rapidly growing satellite production company. This role requires the candidate to report onsite and offers significant relocation and benefits packages.
Responsibilities for the Mechanisms Engineer:
mechanism AIT, precision assembly, cleanroom integration, contamination control, mechanical tolerance stack-up, kinematic chain, degree of freedom management, load path definition, structural load transfer, deployment kinematics, deployment dynamics, hinge line alignment, hinge preload, over-center mechanism, hard stop, soft stop, deploy latch, hold-down release mechanism, HDRM, HDRM pin puller, frangibolt, non-explosive actuator, NEA, shape memory alloy actuator, SMA actuator, motor-driven actuator, stepper motor, brushless DC motor, torque motor, gear train, planetary gearbox, harmonic drive, cycloidal drive, spur gear, backlash control, preload springs, Belleville washers, torsion spring, constant force spring, flexural pivot, flexure hinge, compliant mechanism, yoke assembly, clevis joint, spherical bearing, duplex bearing, angular contact bearing, bearing preload, dry lubricant, MoS₂ coating, sputtered lubricant, solid lubrication, grease compatibility, vacuum-rated lubricant, tribology, wear-in testing, life-cycle testing, deployment life testing, microgravity deployment analysis, gravity offload system, counterbalance rig, air-bearing table, gravity compensation fixture, test-as-you-fly philosophy, flight-like configuration, protoflight approach, qualification model, flight model, engineering model, pathfinder unit, breadboard unit, mechanism-level qualification, subsystem-level qualification, system-level test, acceptance testing, workmanship verification, torque margin, torque budget, torque scatter, torque signature, motor current profile, deployment time margin, latch confirmation switch, microswitch, reed switch, Hall effect sensor, position encoder, resolver, potentiometer, end-of-travel sensing, redundant sensing, single-fault tolerance, fail-safe design, fail-operational design, inhibit lines, arm/disarm plug, safing pin, remove-before-flight pin, RBF pin, ground safety constraints, ground support equipment, GSE, electrical ground support equipment, EGSE, mechanical ground support equipment, MGSE, deployment restraint, launch lock, launch vibration restraint, preload retention, random vibration testing, sine vibration testing, shock testing, pyroshock testing, modal survey, resonance avoidance, dynamic coupling, modal margin, stiffness margin, thermal distortion, thermal vacuum testing, thermal cycling, thermo-mechanical analysis, coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch, CTE mismatch, cold deployment, hot deployment, worst-case deployment, deployment repeatability, deployment symmetry, synchronization mechanism, timing gear, cross-shaft, cable-driven mechanism, pulley system, cable tensioning, lanyard release, snubber mechanism, damping coefficient, dashpot, viscous damper, eddy current damper, deployment shock attenuation, shock transmission path, structural ringing, mechanism chatter, friction budgeting, friction uncertainty, stiction, breakaway torque, running torque, torque-to-deploy, margin of safety, ultimate load factor, yield margin, hinge moment, boom root moment, tip deflection, deployed stiffness, fundamental frequency, eigenvalue analysis, FEA correlation, analysis-to-test correlation, as-built vs as-modeled, dimensional inspection, metrology, laser tracker alignment, photogrammetry, shimming, selective assembly, fit-check, tolerance buy-down, interface control document, ICD compliance, mechanical interface verification, harness routing, strain relief, cable management, umbilical integration, connector clocking, witness marks, torque stripe, fastener locking, self-locking insert, locking wire, staking, adhesive bonding, structural adhesive, cure cycle control, bondline thickness, destructively tested coupons, non-destructive evaluation, NDE, X-ray inspection, dye penetrant, ultrasonic inspection, workmanship standard compliance, NASA-STD-8739, ECSS mechanism standards, peer review, redline documentation, configuration control, discrepancy report, anomaly resolution, root cause analysis, MRB disposition, rework and repair, FOD prevention, foreign object debris control, tool accountability, serialized parts tracking, build traveler, integration flow, AIT flow-down, test readiness review, TRR, flight readiness review, FRR
Responsibilities for the Mechanisms Engineer:
- Assemble, integrate, and test spacecraft mechanisms including hinges, yokes, actuators, HDRMs, and deployable booms/arms with thousands of moving parts per satellite.
- Develop and operate ground support equipment for vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum testing of deployment hardware.
- Perform tolerance stack-up analysis and ensure alignment in moving assemblies for reliable deployment.
- Analyze test data and determine pass/fail criteria, supporting spacecraft integration and launch operations.
- Troubleshoot anomalies and perform root-cause analysis on deployment systems; contribute to design improvements for mechanisms that fail to deploy cleanly.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with engineers and technicians to ensure mechanism performance from design through mission deployment.
- Calculate torque margins and hinge preload requirements for deployment actuators and separation systems.
- 0-4 years of hands-on experience in aerospace mechanisms, deployment systems, or precision mechanical assemblies (structures-only experience will not suffice).
- Proficiency in mechanical assembly, testing, and integration of space hardware, including deployable systems.
- Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo) and test equipment (oscilloscopes, thermal chambers).
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent experience).
- Strong understanding of beam loading, bending moments, torque margins, and tolerance stack-ups in moving assemblies.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills; ability to lead failure investigations.
- Flexibility for occasional weekend and early morning work (e.g., 4 AM deployments).
- Salary Range: $85,000-100,000 (depending on experience)
- Comprehensive benefit package; Cigna Medical, Cigna Dental, Vision, 401k w/ ADP, PTO, paid holidays, sick Leave as required by law
mechanism AIT, precision assembly, cleanroom integration, contamination control, mechanical tolerance stack-up, kinematic chain, degree of freedom management, load path definition, structural load transfer, deployment kinematics, deployment dynamics, hinge line alignment, hinge preload, over-center mechanism, hard stop, soft stop, deploy latch, hold-down release mechanism, HDRM, HDRM pin puller, frangibolt, non-explosive actuator, NEA, shape memory alloy actuator, SMA actuator, motor-driven actuator, stepper motor, brushless DC motor, torque motor, gear train, planetary gearbox, harmonic drive, cycloidal drive, spur gear, backlash control, preload springs, Belleville washers, torsion spring, constant force spring, flexural pivot, flexure hinge, compliant mechanism, yoke assembly, clevis joint, spherical bearing, duplex bearing, angular contact bearing, bearing preload, dry lubricant, MoS₂ coating, sputtered lubricant, solid lubrication, grease compatibility, vacuum-rated lubricant, tribology, wear-in testing, life-cycle testing, deployment life testing, microgravity deployment analysis, gravity offload system, counterbalance rig, air-bearing table, gravity compensation fixture, test-as-you-fly philosophy, flight-like configuration, protoflight approach, qualification model, flight model, engineering model, pathfinder unit, breadboard unit, mechanism-level qualification, subsystem-level qualification, system-level test, acceptance testing, workmanship verification, torque margin, torque budget, torque scatter, torque signature, motor current profile, deployment time margin, latch confirmation switch, microswitch, reed switch, Hall effect sensor, position encoder, resolver, potentiometer, end-of-travel sensing, redundant sensing, single-fault tolerance, fail-safe design, fail-operational design, inhibit lines, arm/disarm plug, safing pin, remove-before-flight pin, RBF pin, ground safety constraints, ground support equipment, GSE, electrical ground support equipment, EGSE, mechanical ground support equipment, MGSE, deployment restraint, launch lock, launch vibration restraint, preload retention, random vibration testing, sine vibration testing, shock testing, pyroshock testing, modal survey, resonance avoidance, dynamic coupling, modal margin, stiffness margin, thermal distortion, thermal vacuum testing, thermal cycling, thermo-mechanical analysis, coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch, CTE mismatch, cold deployment, hot deployment, worst-case deployment, deployment repeatability, deployment symmetry, synchronization mechanism, timing gear, cross-shaft, cable-driven mechanism, pulley system, cable tensioning, lanyard release, snubber mechanism, damping coefficient, dashpot, viscous damper, eddy current damper, deployment shock attenuation, shock transmission path, structural ringing, mechanism chatter, friction budgeting, friction uncertainty, stiction, breakaway torque, running torque, torque-to-deploy, margin of safety, ultimate load factor, yield margin, hinge moment, boom root moment, tip deflection, deployed stiffness, fundamental frequency, eigenvalue analysis, FEA correlation, analysis-to-test correlation, as-built vs as-modeled, dimensional inspection, metrology, laser tracker alignment, photogrammetry, shimming, selective assembly, fit-check, tolerance buy-down, interface control document, ICD compliance, mechanical interface verification, harness routing, strain relief, cable management, umbilical integration, connector clocking, witness marks, torque stripe, fastener locking, self-locking insert, locking wire, staking, adhesive bonding, structural adhesive, cure cycle control, bondline thickness, destructively tested coupons, non-destructive evaluation, NDE, X-ray inspection, dye penetrant, ultrasonic inspection, workmanship standard compliance, NASA-STD-8739, ECSS mechanism standards, peer review, redline documentation, configuration control, discrepancy report, anomaly resolution, root cause analysis, MRB disposition, rework and repair, FOD prevention, foreign object debris control, tool accountability, serialized parts tracking, build traveler, integration flow, AIT flow-down, test readiness review, TRR, flight readiness review, FRR
Salary : $85,000 - $100,000