Kapta Space

Spaceborne radar systems using metasurface antennas

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Design EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeRedmond, WA, USA$185k - $220k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

A BS, MS, or PhD in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline is required.
At least 6 years of mechanical and thermal design experience or equivalent experience is required.
Strong skills in computer-aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis are required, with examples including Onshape and Ansys.
Experience with electronics packaging and printed circuit board (PCB) design is required.
The candidate must be able to work onsite in Seattle, Washington, with intermittent work travel required.
The candidate must be able to work independently and apply advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts.
The candidate must be able to communicate technical findings clearly and collaborate effectively across engineering functions.

Responsibilities

Develop rugged printed circuit board systems, avionics enclosures, radio-frequency systems, power systems, and mounting solutions for harsh environments such as low Earth orbit.
Own successful delivery of hardware from requirements definition and design through fabrication, testing, and qualification as the Responsible Engineer.
Perform bolted-joint analysis, modal-vibration analysis, static and dynamic thermal analysis, and tolerance stack-ups.
Build hardware that passes an environmental qualification test plan such as SMC-S-16.
Generate organized and flexible three-dimensional computer-aided design models.
Create drawings according to ASME Y14.5-2018.
Evaluate cost, schedule, and performance tradeoffs across fabrication technologies including computer numerical control machining, printed circuit board manufacturing, three-dimensional metal printing, wire electrical discharge machining, electroforming, and injection molding.
Manage schedule and integration requirements for payload development and spacecraft integration to ensure on-time delivery.
Mentor junior engineers.

Desired Qualifications

Experience with electronically steered or phased-array radar systems, including beam steering, calibration approaches, and general space reliability.
Experience developing radio-frequency systems hardware such as waveguides, antennas, or phase-matched cables.
Experience selecting metals and other materials, finishes, lubricants, insulative materials, films, composites, tapes, adhesives, or electrical components for use in low Earth orbit.
Experience setting up and operating three-axis or five-axis computer numerical control milling machines, wire electrical discharge machining machines, coordinate measuring machine metrology systems, or other advanced manufacturing and testing systems.
Experience using Thermal Desktop, Ansys Mechanical, or Ansys Icepak.
An active or previously held United States Government Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
Experience in defense contracting environments or intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance or target-tracking radar missions.
Prior work in small, fast-iteration aerospace teams.

Salary Range: 185000 to 220000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

Kapta Space, a VC-funded early-stage startup in Seattle, WA, is breaking new ground in Geospatial Intelligence. Our technology centers around a proven, scalable electronically-steered radar for sophisticated spaceborne applications such as earth observation using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques, as well as enabling advanced defense missions such as target tracking on the ground and in the air.

Kapta is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to be responsible for full lifecycle development of electromechanical hardware for a spaceborne radar payload.

This position requires a self-driven engineer capable of working independently in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary startup environment. The candidate must have a demonstrated capability to apply advanced technical principles, theories and concepts. The ideal candidate must have the drive and experience to complete projects independently and on time.

Kapta Space recognizes that strong candidates come from diverse backgrounds; if you bring relevant experience and the capacity to grow into this role, we encourage you to apply. The position may be structured at a junior or senior level based on the selected candidate’s strengths, with salary and benefits adjusted accordingly.

You are the Right Fit for this Role at Kapta Space if:

You can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to develop rugged printed circuit board systems, avionics enclosures, RF systems, power systems, and mounting solutions for use in harsh environments such as Low Earth Orbit.

You take “Responsible Engineer” ownership of successful delivery of hardware from requirements definition and design all the way through fabrication, test and qualification.

You can perform mechanical analysis tasks such as bolted joint analysis, modal vibration analysis, static/dynamic thermal analysis, and tolerance stack-ups.

You’ve built hardware to pass an environmental qualification test plan (such as SMC-S-16)

Generating organized and flexible 3D CAD is second nature to you.

You’re familiar with making drawings per ASME Y14.5-2018

You’re familiar with cost, schedule and performance tradeoffs of diverse fabrication technologies such as CNC machining, PCB manufacturing, 3D metal printing, Wire EDM, electroforming or injection molding.

You can manage schedule and integration requirements for payload development and spacecraft integration to ensure on-time delivery.

You love to learn.

Domestic travel may be required. Foreign travel possible.

Required Qualifications

BS, MS, or PhD in mechanical, aerospace engineering or related discipline

Onsite role in Seattle, WA, with intermittent work travel required (less than 10%)

6+ years of mechanical and thermal design or equivalent experience

Strong skills in CAD design (ex: OnShape) and Finite Element analysis (ex: Ansys)

Experience with Electronics Packaging and PCB design

Participate in a culture of technical excellence, innovation and ownership. Mentor junior engineers.

Excellent communication skills, with ability to clearly present technical findings and collaborate effectively across engineering functions.

Bonus if candidates have experience and skills in the following areas:

Experience with electronically-steered or phased-array radar systems, including beam-steering, calibration approaches and general space reliability.

Experience developing RF systems hardware such as waveguide, antennas, or phase-matched cables

Experience selecting materials such as metal alloys, plastics, finishes, lubricants, insulative materials, films, composites, tapes, adhesives, or electrical components for use in Low Earth Orbit.

Setting up and running 3-axis or 5-axis CNC milling machines, Wire EDM machines, CMM Metrology Systems, or other advanced manufacturing/testing systems.

Experience using Thermal Desktop, Ansys Mechanical or Ansys IcePak.

An active or previously held US Government TS/SCI security clearance is considered a strong plus

Experience in defense contracting environments or ISR/target-tracking radar missions.

Prior work in small, fast-iteration aerospace teams.

Concerned you do not meet all the requirements? Not a problem - please apply even if you do not meet all these criteria.

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Kapta Employees must be U.S. citizens, lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or Commerce as applicable.

Kapta Space is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens our team, and broadens our capabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

Kapta Space does not engage with external recruiters or agencies without prior written agreement. If you are a recruiter (individual or agency) and wish to engage with Kapta Space for talent acquisition, please email [email protected].

About the Company

Kapta Space

Spaceborne radar systems using metasurface antennas

Kapta Space develops spaceborne radar systems for Low Earth Orbit satellites using metasurface antennas to create electronically steerable arrays, enabling high-resolution Earth observation for defense and commercial customers. The sensors mounted on satellites steer beams electronically via the metasurface antenna, providing SAR, InSAR, and GMTI imaging with on-orbit operation that works in all weather and daylight while aiming for lower cost and power than traditional AESAs. It differentiates itself by focusing on metasurface ESAs to reduce cost, complexity, and power, led by veterans from Echodyne, with early DoD funding and a seed round to accelerate on-orbit demonstrations. The company aims to deploy a persistent spaceborne radar constellation that delivers weather-unrestricted geospatial imagery for defense uses and commercial monitoring of infrastructure and land displacement.

Company size: 11-50
Company stage: Series A
Total funding: $29M
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
Founded: 2022

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