Spacecraft Mechanisms Build Engineer

About this role

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

Apex is seeking a Mechanisms Build Engineer to support the development, integration, scaling, and qualification of spacecraft electromechanical hardware, with a primary focus on long-life rotating assemblies and electrically driven mechanism systems.

This role will support the build and test of critical spacecraft components including actuator systems, motor-driven mechanisms, reaction wheel-related hardware, deployables, and other precision electromechanical assemblies. You’ll work closely with mechanisms, avionics, controls, manufacturing, and test teams to develop scalable production and validation approaches for flight hardware that must survive demanding environments and long mission lifetimes.

We’re looking for someone who is deeply practical, electromechanically minded, and excited about building, testing, troubleshooting, and scaling complex hardware systems.

Responsibilities:

- Support the build, integration, and qualification of spacecraft electromechanical hardware and long-life rotating assemblies.

- Develop and execute component-level and system-level test campaigns for motor-driven spacecraft hardware and mechanisms.

- Support manufacturing scaling efforts for actuator systems and precision electromechanical components.

- Design and implement test setups, fixtures, instrumentation, and validation approaches for rotating assemblies and actuator hardware.

- Work closely with controls, avionics, and software teams to integrate and validate motor drive systems and mechanism telemetry interfaces.

- Support implementation and testing of Hall effect sensors, rotary encoders, resolvers, microswitches, potentiometers, and other electromechanical feedback devices.

- Troubleshoot hardware and system-level issues across motors, mechanisms, sensors, controls interfaces, and electrical integration.

- Support environmental testing including vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, lifetime, and functional performance testing.

- Develop manufacturing and test procedures, work instructions, assembly documentation, and production validation processes.

- Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions during development, qualification, and production activities.

- Partner with design engineering and production teams to improve manufacturability, reliability, and scalability of mechanism systems.

Requirements:

- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or related technical discipline.

- 5+ years of hands-on experience building, integrating, testing, or qualifying electromechanical systems or rotating hardware.

- Experience delivering and testing flight hardware or high-reliability electromechanical systems.

- Strong understanding of electric motor-driven systems, rotating assemblies, actuator hardware, and electromechanical integration.

- Experience working with motor feedback and telemetry systems including Hall effect sensors, rotary encoders, resolvers, microswitches, and potentiometers.

- Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, integration, troubleshooting, and test execution.

- Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills with the ability to debug complex hardware systems.

- Experience developing or supporting manufacturing and test processes for precision hardware.

- Comfortable operating in fast-paced development and production environments with high ownership and autonomy.

Nice to Haves:

- Experience with spacecraft mechanisms, deployables, robotics systems, landing legs, grid fins, or other motor-driven aerospace hardware.

- Familiarity with motor drivers, actuator controls systems, or embedded hardware integration.

- Experience supporting long-life or high-cycle rotating assemblies.

- Familiarity with environmental qualification testing and spacecraft hardware standards.

- Experience supporting production scaling or manufacturing development for flight hardware.

WHY JOIN APEX?

Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest heavily in our people from day one.

WHAT WE OFFER FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES:

- Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create

- Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost

- Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays

- Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%

- 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel

- Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day

- Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family

- Your dream desk setup and all

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