Cowboy Space
Mechanism Engineer Level 1
$74K–$114K
Kent, Washington · On-site · Full-time · Posted Sep 15, 2026
- Experience
- 1+ years required; internships, co-ops, and competition or research team experience count. 3+ years preferred.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- Visa sponsorship
- Basic qualifications require U.S. citizenship or nationality, U.S. permanent residency (current Green Card holder), or lawful admission as a refugee or grant of asylum. ITAR section also lists protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligibility to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.
About the job
Own and develop a vehicle mechanism subsystem—from concept and analysis through hardware build, testing, and flight—for systems such as separation mechanisms, landing gear, control surfaces, or electromechanical actuation.
What you'll do
- Design, analyze, test, and support flight of a mechanism subsystem, balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
- Define and execute qualification and acceptance testing; maintain drawings and release documentation; troubleshoot hardware and implement improvements.
- Work with manufacturing and cross-functional teams, and support launch operations, post-flight inspection, and refurbishment planning.
What they ask for
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- 1+ years designing mechanisms or mechanical systems for flight vehicles or high-performance hardware; internships, co-ops, and competition or research team experience count.
- Experience taking a mechanical design through physical build, assembly, and test; solid fundamentals in structural mechanics, kinematics, materials, and manufacturing processes.
- Proficiency with CAD and engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards; working knowledge of FEA tools applied to structural or mechanism problems.
Nice to have
- 3+ years designing mechanisms or mechanical systems for flight vehicles or high-performance hardware.
- Exposure to separation systems, landing gear, aero control surfaces, or flight electromechanical actuators; hands-on prototyping and machining experience is also welcomed.
Pay
$74,000 - $114,000 annually (base salary)
Tools
NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, ASME Y14.5 GD&T, ANSYS, Nastran, Abaqus
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative