Senior Mechanical Spacecraft Engineer

Parallax Space is building critical mission infrastructure to enable rapid, reliable, and scalable access to space. We partner with commercial, civil, and government customers to deliver integrated payload solutions and hosted mission capabilities that close critical gaps in the modern space architecture.

Our focus is on delivering high-TRL systems at scale through a tech-enabled manufacturing and engineering model that enables repeatable, mission-ready performance.

Reports To: Head of Engineering

Employment Type: Full-Time

Department: Engineering

Travel Requirement: As required for supplier activities, customer reviews, integration, test, and mission execution

Security Clearance Requirement: Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

About Parallax Space

Parallax Space is building critical mission infrastructure to enable rapid, reliable, and scalable access to space. We partner with commercial, civil, and national security customers to deliver high-performance satellite components, integrated payload systems, and mission capabilities that close critical gaps in modern space architecture.

Our model combines advanced engineering, mission execution, and scalable manufacturing to deliver high-TRL products and flight-ready systems at speed.

We are building the infrastructure backbone for the next generation of space systems.

Position Overview

Parallax Space builds spacecraft buses and is scaling to build large satellite constellations. We need a mechanical engineer who can take hardware from concept through CAD, analysis, drawings and test: primary and secondary structure, mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE), fixtures and tooling.

Reporting to the Head of Engineering, you will be the technical lead for mechanical design and structural analysis across our spacecraft programs, from FEA through vibration testing and model correlation. You will set the structural verification approach, mentor junior engineers, and build the mechanical practices the team will scale on as we move to production rate. 

Key Responsibilities

Technical leadership

• Serve as the mechanical and structures technical lead across multiple concurrent spacecraft programs.

• Define structural design criteria, design loads and the verification approach: analysis vs. test, factors of safety, test levels.

• Mentor junior mechanical engineers; review and approve their drawings and analysis.

• Represent mechanical engineering to customers, launch providers and test facilities.

• Shape the mechanical team as it grows: hiring, standards, CAD/PDM and design review practices.

Mechanical design

• Design spacecraft primary and secondary structures, brackets, enclosures and mechanisms in CAD.

• Design MGSE: handling fixtures, lifting and rotation fixtures, shipping containers and integration stands.

• Design test fixtures (vibration, shock, thermal) and manufacturing tooling for repeatable, rate production.

• Produce release-ready drawings with GD&T; build tolerance stacks and mass properties.

• Apply design for manufacturing and assembly, working with machine shops and suppliers on cost and lead time.

Structural analysis (FEA)

• Build and run finite element models: static stress, modal, random vibration, sine and shock.

• Derive design loads from launch vehicle user guides; calculate margins of safety and write analysis reports.

• Run fastener, joint and bolted-interface analysis.

• Test and correlation

• Plan and support vibration and shock tests at component and spacecraft level.

• Correlate FEA models to test data (modal survey, sine signature) and update models.

Program support

• Present designs and analysis at PDR, CDR and test readiness reviews.

• Work with electrical, systems and manufacturing engineers to integrate mechanical hardware with spacecraft subsystems.

• Write and maintain engineering documentation: requirements, test plans, test reports and analysis reports.

• Support integration and test on the floor; disposition nonconformances.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or equivalent 

• 12+ years of mechanical design and structural analysis experience on spacecraft or other space flight hardware.

• Led the mechanical or structural design of at least one spacecraft or major spacecraft subsystem through launch.

• Delivered flight hardware through qualification and acceptance testing, including vibration and shock.

• Advanced SolidWorks proficiency and a record of released drawings with GD&T.

• FEA experience: static, modal, random vibration, sine and shock analysis with margin-of-safety reporting.

• Strong understanding of space vehicle subsystems (structures, power, avionics, ADCS, propulsion, communications) and how mechanical design supports them.

• Experience designing fixtures, MGSE or tooling that went into use.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment, on-site and hands-on in integration and test.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with a structures focus.

• Hardware flown on multiple missions, including smallsat or ESPA-class spacecraft.

• Working knowledge of machining, sheet metal and composite manufacturing processes.

• Led vibration and shock test campaigns and correlated FEA models to modal survey or sine signature data.

• Experience with vehicle-level testing 

• Coupled loads analysis and launch vehicle interface experience.

• Deep familiarity with NASA-STD-5001, GSFC-STD-7000 (GEVS) and SMC-S-016.

• Designed for production rate: tooling, jigs, and assembly flow for repeat builds.

• Mechanisms experience (deployables, hinges, hold-down and release).

• Led or managed a team of mechanical engineers.

Core Competencies

• Spacecraft structural design

• Structural analysis and FEA

• Loads definition and verification planning

• Environmental testing and model correlation

• Design for manufacturing and rate production

• Space vehicle systems thinking

• Tools

• CAD: SolidWorks (required)

• PDM/PLM: SolidWorks PDM or equivalent; able to help set up our system

• FEA: Femap/NX Nastran, MSC Nastran/Patran, Ansys or Abaqus

• Hardware ownership

• Technical judgment

• Analytical rigor

• Mentorship and technical leadership

• Cross-functional collaboration

Why Join Parallax Space

Join a team building critical infrastructure for the future of space. At Parallax Space, you will have meaningful ownership of the electrical power systems that enable spacecraft, payloads, and mission hardware to perform reliably in demanding environments. 

This role offers the opportunity to take designs from architecture through flight, work directly with a multidisciplinary team, and help establish reusable, manufacturable power solutions for the next generation of scalable space systems. 

Compliance

Parallax Space is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. Certain positions may require eligibility to access export-controlled information under ITAR/EAR regulations and/or the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.