Director of Engineering

A New Paradigm For Space Operations. 

Who We Are: 

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attritable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small number of) primary payloads attached to the bus – and unlock a "one-to-many" system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. 

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. 

What You'll Do: 

The Director of Engineering, Deployables will lead the development of ruggedized microsatellites compatible with Space Kinetic’s high-velocity Whirlwind deployment system. This role owns the deployable system from concept through flight, including design, fabrication, integration, testing, qualification, and production transition.

Job Responsibilities: 

• Lead deployable microsatellite development from concept through flight.
• Own system design, analysis, fabrication, integration, testing, and qualification.
• Design hardware capable of surviving Whirlwind’s high-G operating environment.
• Lead design reviews and provide direction across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Produce mechanical designs, drawings, tolerance analyses, and technical documentation.
• Build prototype, development, qualification, and flight hardware.
• Plan and execute functional, deployment, vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, thermal-cycle, and life-cycle testing.
• Resolve hardware failures, manufacturing issues, and supplier component challenges.

What It Takes: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience developing complex aerospace or high-performance mechanical systems.
• Experience designing precision mechanical assemblies.