What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mechanisms Engineer position at Zachary Piper Solutions?
Role Overview
Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a hands-on Mechanisms Engineer to design, build, and scale deployable spacecraft hardware—from hinges and release mechanisms to actuators and gimballed assemblies—for high‑reliability phased-array satellite systems. You will work from concept to flight: CAD, analysis, prototyping, troubleshooting, and scaling to high-volume satellite production.
This is a highly cross‑functional role with direct impact on launch cadence, constellation growth, and mission reliability.
Key Responsibilities
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Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a hands-on Mechanisms Engineer to design, build, and scale deployable spacecraft hardware—from hinges and release mechanisms to actuators and gimballed assemblies—for high‑reliability phased-array satellite systems. You will work from concept to flight: CAD, analysis, prototyping, troubleshooting, and scaling to high-volume satellite production.
This is a highly cross‑functional role with direct impact on launch cadence, constellation growth, and mission reliability.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, model, and analyze deployable mechanical hardware (hinges, releases, gimbals, actuators) using CATIA, SolidWorks, and NASTRAN.
- Ensure full mechanical tolerance and quality control through GD&T, ESD safety practices, and cleanroom assembly standards.
- Perform detailed FEA, mechanism modeling, and materials validation for mission‑critical moving hardware.
- Rapidly prototype components using carbon fiber composites, machined metals, additive manufacturing, and advanced layups.
- Lead hardware test campaigns: vibration, thermal, TVAC, shock, and deployment reliability.
- Conduct formal root-cause investigations using 8D, Fishbone/Ishikawa, and iterative troubleshooting to resolve flight and test failures.
- Transition hardware from one‑off prototypes to high‑rate production (target: 6 satellites/month).
- Own manufacturing documentation, including detailed drawings, BOMs, assembly procedures, and release packages.
- Coordinate closely with machine shops, composite vendors, and precision mechanism suppliers.
- Support integration operations including periodic travel to Cape Canaveral, vendor sites, and partner facilities.
- Work alongside structures, mechanisms, systems engineering, quality, and assurance teams on subsystem integration.
- Mentor junior engineers; drive continuous improvement for hardware reliability, manufacturability, and deployment performance.
- Influence strategic hardware decisions for constellation expansion and long‑term platform scaling.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
- Demonstrated experience with deployable spacecraft mechanisms or high‑precision mechanical systems.
- Strong proficiency with CATIA or SolidWorks, plus FEA tools such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, Abaqus, etc.
- Hands-on test experience: vibration, thermal, TVAC, shock, or mechanism deployments.
- Knowledge of GD&T, ASME Y14.5, ESD/cleanroom best practices, and precision assembly.
- Experience with root-cause methods (8D, RCA, FTA) and hardware validation.
- Background in spacecraft, aerospace mechanisms, robotics, or high‑reliability electromechanical devices.
- Experience with carbon fiber layups, composites design, or high-stiffness lightweight structures.
- Exposure to high‑volume manufacturing or NewSpace production environments.
- Ability to thrive in a fast‑moving, ambiguity‑heavy engineering culture.
- Base Salary: $90,000, commensurate with experience and technical depth.
- Competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement options.
- Opportunities for relocation support
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Salary : $90,000