Mechanical Engineer, Payloads

Job description

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 skilled Mechanical Engineer, Payloads to join our satellite engineering team. In this role, you will be responsible for the mechanical design, integration, and testing of payload hardware and supporting structures across Apex spacecraft programs. You will work closely with payload, structures, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and integration teams to develop flight-ready hardware and ensure successful payload integration from early design through launch. RESPONSIBILITIES: - Develop mechanical designs and 3D models for payload hardware, mounting structures, brackets, enclosures, and supporting components. - Own mechanical payload integration from initial concept and interface definition through design, manufacturing, assembly, and test. - Define and manage mechanical interfaces between payloads, spacecraft structures, and other vehicle subsystems. - Perform structural analysis and hand calculations to ensure payload hardware meets strength, stiffness, mass, and environmental requirements. - Optimize designs for mass, manufacturability, assembly, reliability, and spacecraft-level performance. - Develop detailed engineering drawings, GD&T, interface control documentation, and hardware specifications. - Evaluate and select appropriate materials, fasteners, coatings, and manufacturing processes for flight hardware. - Collaborate with payload, structures, thermal, avionics, RF, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to resolve integration challenges. - Work directly with manufacturing and suppliers to support hardware fabrication and resolve issues. - Support hands-on assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) of payload and spacecraft hardware. - Develop and execute environmental testing, including vibration, shock, static, and thermal vacuum testing. - Troubleshoot mechanical issues during manufacturing, integration, and test and drive problems to resolution. - Prepare and participate in design reviews, test readiness reviews, and other technical reviews. - Maintain engineering documentation, including design changes, analysis results, test reports, and as-built configurations. REQUIREMENTS: - U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data. - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. - 2+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical hardware. - Proficiency in CAD software for 3D modeling and drafting (e.g., NX, SolidWorks). - Strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals, including structural design, material selection, fasteners, and tolerance analysis. - Experience developing engineering drawings and applying GD&T. - Strong hands-on problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. - Effective written and verbal communication skills. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: - Experience designing mechanical hardware for spacecraft, satellites, aerospace, or other high-reliability systems. - Experience with payload mechanical design and spacecraft-level payload integration. - Experience taking hardware through the full development lifecycle from concept through manufacturing, integration, and test. - Experience with structural analysis, including hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA). - Familiarity with aerospace manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, and additive manufacturing. - Experience with environmental testing, including vibration, shock, static, and thermal vacuum testing. - Experience supporting hands-on assembly and integration of flight hardware. - Experience with NX and Teamcenter. - Familiarity with ASME, NASA, or other aerospace design and qualification standards. #LI-MO1 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 peo