Mechanical Simulation Engineer

Space Kinetic is a cleared, venture‑backed startup focused on addressing urgent national security priorities. Our goal is to deliver a suite of asymmetric capabilities for space superiority and missile defense leveraging our proprietary electromechanical deployment system, which enables the rapid deployment of low‑cost payloads through space without firing a thruster. Space Kinetic is currently assembling its TRL‑5 prototype. Our goal is to leverage this platform to provide the United States with a new tool for securing the space domain & catalyzing the emerging space economy.

The Mechanical Simulation Engineer will design and build prototypes for the Space Kinetic’s core technology to achieve our mission of a flight demo within the next 2 years in a fast‑paced startup environment. You will work with the Space Kinetic manufacturing/engineering team to finalize the current prototype’s CAD design, refining the design with detailed tolerancing to cover all prototype development phases, completing mechanism design, providing 2D CAD drawings for manufacturing, and working with vendors to source components.

Following this, you will be responsible for enhancing the prototype design to achieve significant weight reduction, targeting a 30% decrease and increasing its stiffness and rigidity. The next phase involves revising the mechanism designs to incorporate the latest advancements, minimizing vibration within the system. Subsequently, the prototype will undergo a mechanical redesign to ensure it is suitable for manufacturing, with specific attention to tolerancing for plating processes.

Additionally, you will adapt the prototype for future tests, such as air bearing, zero‑g flights, and T‑Vac chamber testing, making structural adjustments to facilitate testing in various orientations and environments while ensuring the design meets rigorous safety standards. Finally, the role involves comprehensive ongoing analysis of test data to inform and drive necessary design changes throughout the project duration, moving closer to a flight‑ready prototype with each new design iteration.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field with a minimum of 5 years of related experience. Advanced Degrees (Master’s or Ph.D.) in similar disciplines are highly desirable with corresponding technical expertise in an analysis field.
• Demonstrated experience in space vehicle structural load requirements across all mission phases: ground handling, transportation, launch/ascent, separation events, on‑orbit operations, and disposal.
• Ability to translate mission concepts, trajectory, and GNC behaviors into structural load cases and requirements.
• Establish limit and ultimate loads, margins of safety, and applicable factors of safety per standards (NASA, DoD, ECSS, etc.).
• Mid‑level or higher expertise with key CAD and CAE packages (NASTRAN, FEMAP, ANSYS, Solidworks, NX, Simcenter 3D, Vibroacoustic, Thermal Desktop, NX Motion, Amesim, etc.)
• Ability to develop analytical models to determine load paths, internal member loads, and interface loads.
• Ability to provide input to mass properties and structural sizing.
• Experience in designing and executing system and subsystem testing in an Environmental Test or R&D environment, understanding of data acquisition and adept at implementing design improvements based on test data.
• Ability to evaluate static, dynamic, transient, shock, random vibration, sine vibration, and vibroacoustic environments.
• Ability to work closely with Structures
  , Thermal
  , GNC
  , Propulsion
  , and System Engineering to ensure load compatibility.
• Ability to build and maintain a network of talented individuals. Prioritizes organizational and planning skills.
• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder).
• Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance.

• Experience with space‑rated component design analysis and test.
• Hands‑on experience in testing for in‑space operations.
• Passion for the commercial and government space…