Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
Pulse Space
Seattle, WAFull-timePosted todayStill listed today
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Job overview
Pulse Space develops photonics and high-power laser systems for industrial, defense, and scientific applications. The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer leads design, analysis, and integration of mechanical systems for satellite platforms and laser payloads, taking hardware from concept through qualification testing and flight production. The role collaborates with optical, electrical, thermal, and systems engineers to deliver space-qualified mechanical systems.
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Full job description
Back to Careers Senior Mechanical Design Engineer Satellite & Payload Systems Seattle, WA Full-Time Engineering Division Apply Now
About this role Pulse Space Inc. develops advanced photonics and high-power laser systems for industrial, defense, and scientific applications. Our team drives innovation in kW-class fiber laser architectures, beam combining techniques, and next-generation directed-energy platforms. We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design, analysis, and integration of mechanical systems for our satellite platforms and laser payloads. This role requires both creative problem-solving and rigorous engineering discipline — you will develop hardware from initial concept through qualification testing and flight production. You will collaborate with optical, electrical, thermal, and systems engineers to deliver space-qualified mechanical systems that enable our mission-critical payloads.
In this role, you will
- Design satellite structural assemblies, payload housings, and precision optomechanical mounts using CREO or equivalent 3D CAD software
- Perform structural analysis (static, dynamic, modal) and thermal analysis to ensure designs meet launch loads, on-orbit environments, and operational requirements
- Design deployable mechanisms and articulation assemblies with emphasis on reliability, mass efficiency, and performance in the space environment
- Develop thermal management architectures including conductive paths, radiators, heat pipes, and interface designs to maintain optical and electronic components within operating limits
- Apply GD&T principles to drawings and models to ensure manufacturability, inspectability, and assembly tolerance stack-up closure
- Drive design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) — optimize part count, standardize fasteners, reduce process complexity, and enable high-rate production
- Select materials, coatings, and surface treatments appropriate for space environments: outgassing requirements, thermal cycling, radiation exposure, and micrometeorite resistance
- Build and execute qualification test plans: vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and functional performance testing to validate designs against requirements
- Work closely with optical engineers to design kinematic mounts, alignment features, and optomechanical interfaces that maintain beam quality and pointing accuracy
- Support integration and test activities, troubleshoot hardware issues, and implement design improvements based on test data and on-orbit performance
What you bring
- B.S. or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related discipline
- 5+ years of hands-on experience designing mechanical systems for space, defense, or high-reliability applications
- Proficiency in 3D CAD software (CREO strongly preferred; NX, SolidWorks, or similar also considered)
- Strong understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals: stress analysis, fatigue, fracture mechanics, heat transfer, and dynamics
- Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) tools for structural and thermal simulation (e.g., Ansys, Nastran, Abaqus, or equivalent)
- Working knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5
- Familiarity with space environment constraints: vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, launch loads, and material compatibility
- Demonstrated ability to own hardware from concept through production, including design trades, analysis, testing, and documentation
- Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams
What will set you apart
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
- Experience designing flight hardware for space vehicles or satellite payloads that have flown or been qualified for flight
- Hands-on experience with precision optomechanical systems: kinematic mounts, athermalization techniques, alignment methods, and stability requirements
- Background in deployable mechanisms (solar arrays, antennas, booms) or pointing/articulation systems (gimbals, scan mirrors, reaction wheels)
- Knowledge of composite materials, laminate analysis, and composite manufacturing processes
- Experience with thermal control design: heat pipes, phase-change devices, MLI blankets, radiator sizing, and thermal interface materials
- Familiarity with additive manufacturing (DMLS, SLM) for space applications and design for additive manufacturing principles
- Track record of taking hardware from early prototypes to high-rate production in aerospace or defense programs
- Experience with scripting or programming (Python, MATLAB) for design automation, parametric studies, or data analysis
- Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one is a plus
What we offer
- Competitive salary and equity participation commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive benefits: health, dental, vision, and 401(k) with company match
- The chance to work on state-of-the-art laser systems with tangible real-world impact
- A collaborative, fast-paced R&D culture that values technical excellence
- Professional development support including conference travel and continuing education
- Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates
Apply Now
How this job compares
Set against the 764 open Mechanical Design Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This postingNot listed
- Washington median$119–165K/yr38 salary ranges
- US median$40–54/hr71 hourly ranges
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 46 open Mechanical Design Engineer jobs in Washington and 764 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Washington
- SpaceX10 open
- Amazon8 open
- System One5 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 5 years of experience; Mechanical Design Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (646 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 471 of the 764 open Mechanical Design Engineer jobs (62%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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