Umbra

Provides real-time SAR satellite imagery data

Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer - Composites and Structures

Materials & StructuresConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeSanta Barbara, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field is required.
At least 8 years of professional mechanical engineering experience, with a focus on composite materials and structural design, is required.
Strong understanding of composite materials, fabrication processes, and inspection methods is required.
Experience performing structural analyses, including first-principles calculations and finite element analysis, is required.
Hands-on experience with manufacturing, assembly, and integration of complex mechanical structures is required.
Proficiency in computer-aided design software, including design and drafting in accordance with ASME Y14.5 standards, is required.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required to independently diagnose technical challenges and communicate effective solutions.
All hired persons must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States. The role's export-control restrictions require U.S. citizenship, U.S. national status, lawful permanent residency, refugee or asylee status, or other eligibility to obtain applicable authorizations.

Responsibilities

Design and analyze spacecraft hardware and components.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to derive and refine requirements.
Perform detailed design for structures and deployable panels.
Perform analyses for launch loads and on-orbit load cases.
Build finite element models to estimate on-orbit micro-vibration propagation through the spacecraft.
Evaluate and down-select fabrication vendors.
Work with the Chief Engineer and Systems Architects to optimize designs for performance and manufacturability.
Create detailed design documentation, including drawings, design guides, and Interface Control Documents.
Own the design through the full build and test lifecycle, including developing and executing work instructions, test plans, and test reports.
Support complex secondary operations, such as solar cell laydown and string welding.
Partner with technicians and manufacturing engineers to troubleshoot and resolve hardware issues.
Manage vendors and ensure the quality of received components.
Develop and conduct qualification campaigns.
Provide mechanical engineering support to other engineering teams as needed.
Occasionally support launch and test campaigns outside regular hours, including evenings and weekends.
Perform other duties as required.

Desired Qualifications

A master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field is preferred.
At least 15 years of professional mechanical engineering experience specializing in composite structures and design is preferred.
Experience analyzing honeycomb core structures, including failure modes and damage tolerance, is preferred.
Experience developing finite element models for jitter prediction and structural performance is preferred.
Experience designing or analyzing solar arrays and other deployable mechanisms is preferred.
Experience performing thermal analyses and optimizing structural designs for weight and efficiency is preferred.
Experience identifying and resolving manufacturing or supplier quality issues is preferred.
Familiarity with electronics assemblies, wiring harnesses, and mechanical-electrical integration is preferred.
Experience working in Agile development environments and collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams is preferred.

Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer - Composites and Structures

Umbra · Santa Barbara, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-11-07

Salary: USD 175,000–215,000

Workplace: on_site

Department: Space Systems

Description

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems, from sensors to spacecraft, that empower customers worldwide with unmatched access to critical information from space. Our mission is simple and ambitious: redefine space—for people, systems, and missions in every domain. Our teams develop capabilities that deliver persistent access, resilient performance, and mission-ready solutions, advancing U.S. space leadership while keeping the world safe and informed.

About the Job

We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated professional to become an integral part of our dynamic and multidisciplinary engineering team as a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer. In this position, you will have the opportunity to contribute significantly to the design and development of innovative, next-generation space systems and mechanisms. The ideal candidate will possess a deep passion for designing, prototyping, building, and testing hardware, as well as demonstrable expertise in the area of composite structures specifically tailored for spacecraft applications.

This position is based on-site in our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office.

Key Responsibilities

Design and analyze spacecraft hardware and components, including:
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to derive and refine requirements.
Perform detailed design for structures and for deployable panels.
Perform analysis for launch loads and on-orbit load cases.
Build Finite Element Models to estimate on-orbit micro vibration propagation through the spacecraft.
Evaluate and down select fabrication vendors.
Work closely with the Chief Engineer and Systems Architects to optimize designs for performance and manufacturability.
Create detailed design documentation, including drawings, design guides, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
Own the design through the full build and test lifecycle, including:
Develop and execute work instructions, test plans, and test reports.
Support complex secondary operations, such as solar cell laydown and string welding.
Partner with technicians and manufacturing engineers to troubleshoot and resolve hardware issues.
Vendor management and ensuring quality of received components.
Develop and conduct Qualification campaigns.
Provide mechanical engineering support to other engineering teams as needed.
Occasionally support launch and test campaigns outside regular hours, including evenings and weekends.
Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
8-10+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience, with a focus on composite materials and structural design.
Strong understanding of composite materials, fabrication processes, and inspection methods.
Experience performing structural analyses, including first-principles calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
Hands-on experience with manufacturing, assembly, and integration of complex mechanical structures.
Proficiency in CAD software, including design and drafting in accordance with ASME Y14.5 standards.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently diagnose technical challenges and communicate effective solutions.

Desired Qualifications

Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
15+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience, specializing in composite structures and design.
Experience analyzing honeycomb core structures, including failure modes and damage tolerance.
Experience developing finite element models for jitter prediction and structural performance.
Experience designing or analyzing solar arrays and other deployable mechanisms.
Experience performing thermal analyses and optimizing structural designs for weight and efficiency.
Experience identifying and resolving manufacturing or supplier quality issues.
Familiarity with electronics assemblies, wiring harnesses, and mechanical-electrical integration.
Experience working in Agile development environments and collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Benefits

Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave.
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
Vol Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)
401k with 3% non-elective company contribution
Stock Options
Free Parking
Free lunch in office daily

Umbra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Employment Eligibility Verification

In compliance with federal laws, all hired persons will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) upon hire.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR. To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable.

Pay Transparency
This job posting may cover multiple career levels. To ensure greater transparency, we provide base salary ranges for all roles, regardless of location. Our standard pay ranges are based on the role’s function and level, benchmarked against similar growth-stage companies. Compensation may vary based on geographical location, as certain regions may have different cost-of-living factors. The final offer will also be influenced by the candidate's skills, responsibilities, and relevant experience.

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range for this role is $175,000 - $215,000 DOE.

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About the Company

Umbra

Provides real-time SAR satellite imagery data

Umbra builds high-resolution SAR microsatellites for real-time Earth observation. Its satellites use Synthetic Aperture Radar to capture radar imagery day or night and through clouds, delivering precise data for applications such as environmental monitoring, disaster response, and national security. Data is accessed via subscriptions and customized imaging services, with customers including government agencies, private firms, and research institutions. The company operates end-to-end, overseeing the development, launch, and operation of its SAR satellites, and provides imagery through a platform or data feeds. Unlike competitors who may offer optical imagery or smaller-scale sensors, Umbra specializes in SAR microsatellites that provide all-weather, high-resolution radar data in real time. The goal is to help solve global challenges by supplying reliable, timely satellite observations that support decision-making and strategic planning.

Company size: 201-500
Company stage: Grant
Total funding: $46.5M
Headquarters: Arlington County, VA
Founded: 2015

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