Mechanical Engineer

About the Role

General Astronautics is building autonomous dexterous robotic arms for orbital inspection, repair, and assembly. Our systems enable spacecraft to autonomously manipulate, replace, and upgrade hardware in microgravity, without astronaut intervention.

We're looking for a Founding Mechanical Engineer to own the design and development of our robotic hardware from concept through flight-ready systems. This role encompasses the architecture, detailed design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and qualification of precision mechanisms, robotic joints, end effectors, structures, and electromechanical assemblies.

This is a high-ownership, high-accountability role. You will be one of the first engineers at the company, with direct responsibility for major elements of our robotic platform. You will move quickly between CAD, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, and testing. The hardware you build will fly.

Responsibilities

Lead architecture, design, development, and testing of robotic hardware for autonomous microgravity operations

Own hardware from concept through detailed design, prototyping, qualification, integration, and deployment

Design precision mechanisms, joints, end effectors, actuator interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies optimized for vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling, and microgravity

Perform hand calculations, tolerance analyses, and FEA to validate component and subsystem designs

Define requirements, loads, interfaces, error budgets, and verification plans at component, subsystem, and system levels

Work with vendors and manufacturing partners to source components, fabricate parts, and assemble flight hardware

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.

2+ years of experience designing, building, analyzing, and testing complex mechanical or electromechanical hardware

Proficiency in professional CAD software (NX, CATIA, Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent)

Strong fundamentals in machine design, structural sizing, mechanism design, and electromechanical integration

Experience with hand calculations, tolerance analysis, and FEA

Proficiency with GD&T and engineering drawing standards (ASME Y14.5)

Preferred Skills and Experience

Experience with robotic arms, manipulators, precision mechanisms, deployables, or other articulated hardware

Experience designing mechanisms for space, vacuum, or other harsh environments, including thermal qualification, vibration, and contamination control

Experience integrating motors, encoders, controllers, PCBAs, and harnessing into mechanical assemblies

ITAR / Citizenship Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.