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What you will do
- Own rotary actuator and mechanism designs from architecture through detailed design, analysis, build, qualification, and flight
Establish mechanism requirements and translate system-level needs into practical hardware architectures
Lead technical trade studies covering performance, mass, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and scheduleSelect and integrate motors, gearheads, bearings, slip rings, brakes, dampers, and position sensorsSize drivetrains for torque, speed, stiffness, backlash, pointing accuracy, jitter, duty cycle, and mission lifePerform and review torque-margin, friction, structural, thermal, backlash, life, and tolerance analyses using hand calculations and FEADevelop lubrication, materials, surface-treatment, preload, and wear-control strategies for vacuum and thermal-cycling environmentsDefine qualification and acceptance-test programs covering functional performance, life, vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and torque marginLead mechanism design reviews, failure investigations, risk-reduction efforts, and corrective actionsPartner with electrical, controls, and avionics engineers on motor-drive electronics, feedback sensing, fault response, and closed-loop actuator controlWork with manufacturing and suppliers to develop assembly, alignment, inspection, and production processes for precision rotating hardwareIdentify critical technical risks early and build focused development tests to resolve themMentor engineers and establish sound mechanism-design and verification practices across the teamSimplify designs, reduce part count, and eliminate complexity that does not improve performance or reliabilityWhat you need
Required qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline
- 6+ years of professional experience designing mechanisms, actuators, or precision mechanical systems
- Demonstrated ownership of complex mechanical hardware from concept through build and test
- Experience designing rotary mechanisms such as actuators, gearboxes, gimbals, hinges, deployment systems, or drive assemblies
- Strong understanding of motors, gear reductions, bearings, lubrication, friction, backlash, stiffness, and mechanism life
- Proficiency with 3D CAD and the ability to produce detailed engineering drawings using GD&T
- Experience performing mechanical analysis using hand calculations and FEA
- Hands-on experience building, testing, troubleshooting, and improving mechanical hardware
- Ability to make sound technical decisions with incomplete information and communicate tradeoffs clearly
- Evidence of exceptional engineering ability
EAR Requirements
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Nice to have
- Advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline
- Experience developing spacecraft mechanisms or other high-reliability flight hardware
- Experience selecting and integrating brushless DC motors, harmonic drives, planetary gearheads, precision bearings, and position sensors
- Expertise in space-rated tribology, including lubricant selection, bearing preload, wear, cold welding, and life testing under vacuum
- Experience with slip rings, twist capsules, or other rotary power and signal-transfer devices
- Working knowledge of motor-drive electronics, encoders, resolvers, and closed-loop position or velocity control
- Experience leading mechanism qualification campaigns and correlating test results with analytical predictions
- Familiarity with radiation, thermal, contamination, and charging considerations for spacecraft mechanisms
- Knowledge of aerospace mechanism standards and practices, including NASA-STD-5017 or applicable AIAA guidance
- Experience with solar array deployment systems, solar array drive assemblies, antenna-pointing mechanisms, or similar spacecraft hardware
- Experience transitioning precision mechanisms from prototype development into repeatable production
Position details
- Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Department: Starlight Solar
- Travel: Occasional
The mission
Starpath develops and manufactures the technologies that will enable humans to live on the Moon and Mars. Today, we are building robotic systems that locally produce the essential commodities a lunar civilization will require at extreme scale: water, power, and oxygen. Our ultimate goal is to build and operate a self-sustaining city on Mars.
Senior Mechanical Engineer (Rotary Actuators) – space solar
The Starlight team is focused on dramatically improving space solar power to support Starpath’s core mission and the broader space economy. Starlight manufactures the lowest-cost, highest-performance space solar power systems, which will power the majority of new satellites built on Earth and all of Starpath’s equipment on the Moon and Mars.
As a Senior Mechanical Engineer focused on rotary actuators, you will own the architecture, design, analysis, and qualification of the mechanisms that deploy and orient Starlight’s solar arrays. These include solar array drive assemblies, deployment hinges, dampers, latches, and gimbals that must survive launch and operate reliably throughout the mission.
You will serve as a technical authority for spacecraft mechanisms, resolve complex design and integration challenges, and guide hardware from early trade studies through flight qualification and production.
Pay and benefits
At Starpath Robotics, base pay is just one part of your total rewards package. We also offer:
- Generous benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
- Paid time off, holidays, and flexible policies to support balance.
- Professional growth opportunities through training and development.
- The chance to own high-impact work that directly shapes the future of robotics & space!
- A collaborative, mission-driven culture where craftsmanship and innovation are celebrated.
Legal notes
- Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
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Source: the Starpath Robotics Ashby job board. We last checked this job 7 h ago. We first saw it 8 days ago. A job on a job board does not always mean that the team interviews people now. We found this job board in a public list. We did not yet compare it with the careers page of the company.
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Company facts
- Money raised
- At least $6MSum of SEC filings. A filing does not show all money that a company raises.
- Newest raise
- Jul 18, 2024First sale on an SEC filing
Funding records can have errors and can be missing. The company page has the links.
- Open tech jobs
- 10
- With posted pay
- 100%
- Median posted base
- $138K–$183K