{"id":459358,"url":"https://alion.io/job/orbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager","title":"Mechanical Engineering Manager","company":{"id":176587,"name":"Orbit Fab","domain":"orbitfab.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/orbit-fab","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Rippling","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Lafayette, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":144000,"max":186000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":186000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ANSYS","optional":true},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-29T16:31:22Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-29T09:20:57Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":29,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":[],"days_open":29},"description":"Orbit Fab's mission is to create the foundational infrastructure that will fuel a bustling in-space economy, capable of sustaining permanent jobs in space. Today, satellites cannot be refueled, which severely constrains their mobility and inhibits the development of economic activities in space. \nOrbit Fab breaks the single-use paradigm, pioneering our Gas Stations in Space™ refueling infrastructure and RAFTI™ technology to deliver propellant in space, enabling lower-cost satellite construction, increased maneuverability, precise control, and extended lifespans. The possibilities are unprecedented, opening the doors to unimagined operational strategies and business models. \nSince our establishment in 2018, we have already achieved the successful launch of three tankers to space. With offices in both the US and UK, we are working in close collaboration with partners and customers across the space industry. Orbit Fab is rapidly ramping up capabilities and requires exceptional talent to tackle important challenges. Our roles offer wide ranging opportunities to have a demonstrable impact and enable a bustling space economy.\nRole:\nAs the Mechanical Engineering Manager, you will lead the mechanical team from concept designs to producing flight-ready hardware. We have multiple ongoing projects, and we need someone with excellent technical understanding and the ability to juggle priorities. You would be responsible for understanding people’s needs, business needs, and technical requirements.\nThe expectation for this role is to be a player-coach with 50-75% of time spent on leadership responsibilities and 25-50% of time spent on individual contributor work.\nResponsibilities\nLead the mechanical team through multiple concurrent projects, meeting deadlines on time\nDelegate effectively so that the right team members are working on tasks that suit their skills, interest, and technical growth path\nGuide process development and adherence for the Mechanical Engineering team\nReview mechanical system architecture affecting the mission as a whole and the products that will interface with the hardware.\nSupport analysis required to satisfy internal requirements for hardware performance, life, and environment.\nSupport assembly and test activities including performance, shock, vibration, and space environments.\nReview engineering drawings; ensure ASME Y14.5 and drafting best practices are applied to released drawings. Prepares and gives reviews of team’s work prior to critical milestones.\nProactively identify roadblocks to technical progress and take steps to mitigate/avoid them.\nDeliver effective presentations to the team\nHold weekly one-on-ones with team members and provide mentorship\nEstablish and maintain effective working relationships within the department. Interact appropriately with others to maintain a positive and productive work environment.\nOwn the design and analysis of spacecraft systems, structures, MGSE, and mechanisms. Develop and maintain detailed CAD models and documentation. Perform analyses and testing to validate designs and ensure compliance.\nProvide SME input in the development of engineering products, spacecraft architecture, trade studies, requirements development, verification, and validation plans \nExperience, Qualifications, and Characteristics\nBachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other related discipline\n7+ years of experience in design, fabrication, and/or test for mechanical systems \nProven leadership experience in a responsible engineer, project lead, or team management capacity\nProficiency in CAD and analysis tools. Hands-on experience with complex mechanical systems, including design, fabrication, and testing\nExperience with mechanism design including gears, ball screws, motor sizing, vibration & shock analysis\nExperience taking a product from concept to operation\nKnowledge of space rated materials and design trades around material choices\nCan work autonomously, views work with a critical eye\nAn effective sense of urgency and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, small company environment\nAbility to work in a multidisciplinary team \nExcellent communication, analytical, organizational, strategic, statistical, and personal skills\nMust be willing and able to work a hybrid schedule (3-5 days a week on site) out of our Lafayette, CO office\nNice to Have\n10+ years of experience in design, development, and/or test for mechanical systems \n2+ years of experience managing teams\nExperience performing analysis with Ansys and MATLAB\nExperience with spacecraft or launch vehicle operations\nAdvanced degree in an engineering discipline or related field\nWorking knowledge of range safety requirements (AFSPCMAN 91-710)\nUnderstanding of qualification, acceptance, and protoqualification verification approaches\nExperience with spacecraft and subsystem environment definition (radiation, structural loads, thermal, EMI/EMC, orbital debris, etc.) and design approaches (at LEO, GEO, and beyond\nExperience in a startup environment\nGeneral understanding of mechanical manufacturing processes, including machining and welding \nAt Orbit Fab, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply if you feel you would succeed in the role above.\nLocation and Benefits\nOrbit Fab is based out of Lafayette, Colorado and all roles are based in Colorado. We offer fully covered benefits, discretionary time off, and flexible work hours.\nEligibility\nSome job roles may be limited to US Persons (22 CFR 120.62 “U.S. person”).\nOrbit Fab Inc does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.\n\nThe estimated salary range for this position is:\n144,000 - 186,000 USD per year","description_format":"text","description_chars":6059,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-06T10:31:54Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":72,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.796,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":29,"expected_fill_days":46,"reasons":["conf:0","win:mid"],"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":186000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/orbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/orbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-29T13:26:02Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":20173,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-30T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":176587},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=176587"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Forbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Forbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Forbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/orbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Forbit-fab-mechanical-engineering-manager"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":459358}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"orbitfab.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":459358},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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