{"id":2488242,"url":"https://alion.io/job/general-astronautics-mechanical-engineer","title":"Mechanical Engineer","company":{"id":3779638,"name":"General Astronautics","domain":"generalastro.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/general-astronautics","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Work at a Startup","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":140000,"max":170000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":170000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-14T01:10:42Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-14","last_verified_at":"2026-10-14T19:21:10Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":0,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":0},"description":"About the Role\nGeneral Astronautics is building autonomous dexterous robotic arms for orbital inspection, repair, and assembly. Our systems enable spacecraft to autonomously manipulate, replace, and upgrade hardware in microgravity, without astronaut intervention.\nWe're looking for a Founding Mechanical Engineer to own the design and development of our robotic hardware from concept through flight-ready systems. This role encompasses the architecture, detailed design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and qualification of precision mechanisms, robotic joints, end effectors, structures, and electromechanical assemblies.\nThis is a high-ownership, high-accountability role. You will be one of the first engineers at the company, with direct responsibility for major elements of our robotic platform. You will move quickly between CAD, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, and testing. The hardware you build will fly.\nResponsibilities\nLead architecture, design, development, and testing of robotic hardware for autonomous microgravity operations\n\nOwn hardware from concept through detailed design, prototyping, qualification, integration, and deployment\n\nDesign precision mechanisms, joints, end effectors, actuator interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies optimized for vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling, and microgravity\n\nPerform hand calculations, tolerance analyses, and FEA to validate component and subsystem designs\n\nDefine requirements, loads, interfaces, error budgets, and verification plans at component, subsystem, and system levels\n\nWork with vendors and manufacturing partners to source components, fabricate parts, and assemble flight hardware\n\nBasic Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.\n\n2+ years of experience designing, building, analyzing, and testing complex mechanical or electromechanical hardware\n\nProficiency in professional CAD software (NX, CATIA, Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent)\n\nStrong fundamentals in machine design, structural sizing, mechanism design, and electromechanical integration\n\nExperience with hand calculations, tolerance analysis, and FEA\n\nProficiency with GD&T and engineering drawing standards (ASME Y14.5)\n\nPreferred Skills and Experience\nExperience with robotic arms, manipulators, precision mechanisms, deployables, or other articulated hardware\n\nExperience designing mechanisms for space, vacuum, or other harsh environments, including thermal qualification, vibration, and contamination control\n\nExperience integrating motors, encoders, controllers, PCBAs, and harnessing into mechanical assemblies\n\nITAR / Citizenship Requirements\nMust be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export 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