RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take full ownership for designing ground mechanical systems, which are critical in launch operations from clean sheet design, through commissioning.
• Responsible for all aspects of assigned mechanical project/product lifecycle: gathering and generating requirements, conceptual design, material and vendor selection, analysis (hand calculations and FEA), CAD/drawing generation, manufacturing, testing, and system commissioning
• Develop sizing loads for ground mechanical systems, and complete analysis to show structural capability against ABL, Test Site and Range requirements
• Develop hydraulic and pneumatic systems to support mechanical ground operations that comply with ABL, Test Site and Range requirements. Work with fluids and electrical engineers to ensure clean cross functional design
• Develop test plans for ground mechanical systems, and lead qualification/ATP testing to verify capability against design requirements. Inclusive of planning, analysis, documentation, and execution of test campaigns
• Create and present internal technical documentation that clearly conveys design intent, structural capability, and adherence to standards, requirements, and specifications
• Prepare and effectively deliver technical regulatory documentation to support launch site deployments, system level checkout operations, and flight license approval
• Lead the development of internal standard manufacturing/integration processes (welding, fabrication, inspection, etc.) that comply with ABL, Test Site and Range requirements and deliver quality ground mechanical systems
• Manage the project’s schedule, compliance with internal and external requirements, budget, milestones, and track status
• Mentor other engineers and technicians on the team
• Interface with technicians to coordinate builds, logistics, support, and requirements
• Ability to travel 25-30%

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil or similar field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working in space, aerospace, or equivalent professional environments with direct hands-on experience developing complex mechanical systems
• Experience in structural design, detailed analysis, build and integration of large, welded structures compliant to AWS D1.1 or equivalent
• Knowledge of mechanical system design, including components, such as valves, regulators, hydraulic actuators, pressure transducers
• Experience developing and reviewing complex fluid P&IDs
• Experience working across engineering groups to define requirements and implement solutions
• Experience with NX or other CAD system

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• M.S. from an accredited university in engineering or science
• Experience working with high-pressure systems
• Ability to size fluid components based on flow, pressure, and thermal requirements
• Experience with Teamcenter or other PLM system
• Solid understanding of industry standards such as: AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005
• Experience working with cryogenic fluid systems
• Experience routing fluid and electrical systems in complex assemblies

WHAT WE LOOK FOR:

• Critical thinking: ABL engineers understand the “why” behind all design decisions, operational events and test outcomes
• Ability to deal with ambiguity: ABL engineers must be comfortable defining their own pathway to an objective
• End-to-end ownership

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENTS

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
• Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
• Must be able to stoop, bend, crawl, and able to maneuver in tight spaces
• Physically able to handle items weighing up to 25lbs (unassisted)