Mechanical Engineer, Satellite Harnessing

About the role

You will manage the end-to-end lifecycle of wire harnesses for the Starlink satellite constellation. This position involves taking designs from initial concepts through production and final system integration. You will own the complete mechanical and electrical integrity of these harnesses from blueprint to orbit. This role requires you to balance mass and cost constraints while ensuring absolute reliability in the harshest environments. You will act as the primary mechanical authority for all harness-related decisions within the Starlink Avionics Design team. Success in this position means delivering designs that survive launch vibration, orbital thermal cycling, and on-orbit deployment stresses. You will translate complex system requirements into precise electro-mechanical solutions that enable satellite functionality. This position is critical to the rapid production and deployment of one of the world's largest satellite communication networks.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design electro-mechanical wire harnesses for Starlink vehicles using advanced CAD methodologies.
• Create intricate 3D harness models in Siemens NX and conduct rigorous technical trade studies to optimize performance.
• Produce detailed electrical schematics for both flight hardware and qualification testing equipment.
• Oversee complex vehicle-level mechanical assemblies ensuring seamless systems integration across satellite modules.
• Conduct comprehensive mechanical and electrical testing procedures to validate thermal, vibration, shock, and load requirements.
• Document and present highly technical design and testing outcomes during rigorous internal and external reviews.
• Generate and release highly detailed manufacturing documentation and precision engineering drawings.
• Coordinate closely with production and integration teams to enforce aggressive project schedules and milestones.
• Research and develop innovative methods to improve harness mass efficiency and reduce overall production costs.
• Perform root cause analysis for any anomalies detected during testing or in-flight operations.
• Ensure all designs adhere to strict aerospace standards and regulatory requirements governing spaceflight hardware.
• Collaborate with materials scientists to select appropriate conductors, insulation, and shielding for orbital conditions.
• Support the development of automated processes to scale harness production for high-volume satellite manufacturing.
• Serve as the technical liaison between design engineering and the manufacturing floor to resolve issues proactively.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor degree in an engineering field such as Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering.
• Demonstrate extensive experience using CAD and FEA software for complex mechanical systems design.
• Possess strong spatial reasoning skills to visualize intricate 3D cable routing and component interaction.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to meet ITAR requirements for accessing sensitive aerospace data.
• Show the ability to manage multiple design iterations simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Exhibit meticulous attention to detail to ensure harness specifications are followed without deviation.
• Have a proven capacity to understand and interpret detailed engineering schematics and technical drawings.
• Be capable of working independently with minimal supervision while maintaining strict adherence to project timelines.

Nice to have

• Demonstrate proficiency in Siemens NX and Teamcenter for data management and design execution.
• Bring direct experience with 3D harness design, formboard creation, wiring diagrams, and avionics enclosure modeling.
• Have a minimum of 1 year of hands-on project or internship experience with complex mechanical systems, ideally in a team lead capacity.
• Show a solid background in structural analysis and a deep understanding of common failure modes in mechanical assemblies.
• Have a track record of managing a component or assembly from initial design through high-volume production scaling.
• Possess exceptional communication and teamwork abilities to foster effective cross-functional collaboration.

Skills & tools

• Siemens NX
• Teamcenter
• FEA software
• Electrical schematic design
• Mechanical structural analysis

Practical notes

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Compensation: Level 1 ($100,000 - $117,500) or Level 2 ($115,000 - $140,000) based on experience.

• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, stock incentives, and discretionary bonuses.
• Includes 3 weeks of vacation, 10+ holidays, and state-compliant sick time.
• Expect to work long hours and weekends during critical project phases.
• Travel requirement is up to 30%.
• Company shuttles provided from select Seattle locations to the Redmond office.