Engineering Manager, MechanismsTrue Anomaly seeks an innovative Mechanisms Engineering Manager to lead a small, agile team responsible for the design, development, integration, and testing of precision, affordable, motor-driven actuation systems for orbital platforms. Reporting to the VP of New Product Engineering, this role encompasses hands-on technical leadership alongside people management, program planning, and product delivery. The team's portfolio spans precision pointing and tracking systems, solar array drive assemblies, reaction wheels, solar array release mechanisms, optical focusing systems, CubeSat dispensers, and 1G test stands.
The successful candidate will have deep expertise in spacecraft mechanisms and motor-driven systems, and the drive to vertically integrate in-house solutions that deliver real mission advantage.ResponsibilitiesOwn the technical direction for spacecraft mechanism systems, including precision gimbals, motor-driven actuators, and associated control electronicsLead, mentor, and grow a team of mechanisms engineers, including a dedicated motor control engineer, to develop fully vertically integrated actuation solutionsOversee end-to-end mechanisms development lifecycle: requirements definition, mechanical and motor control design, analysis, procurement, integration, and testLead the design and development of precision pointing, tracking, and articulation systems for on-orbit payload and antenna applicationsPartner closely with the GNC team to develop and validate bearing determination, stabilization, and closed-loop pointing controlDevelop and maintain mechanism performance budgets, including pointing accuracy, torque margin, lifetime, and disturbance analysesEnsure mechanism designs meet mission requirements for reliability, thermal performance, radiation tolerance, and SWaP constraintsManage schedules, budgets, staffing, and technical risk across multiple mechanism development programsCollaborate with avionics, systems engineering, software, and test teams to ensure seamless spacecraft integrationDrive compliance with applicable aerospace standards and lead design reviews with internal stakeholders and customersCommunicate product development status and issues with leadership and stakeholdersQualificationsBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred)10+ years of professional experience in spacecraft mechanisms design, development, and testDemonstrated experience with motor-driven actuation systems, including brushless DC motors, stepper motors, and associated drive electronicsExperience with precision pointing or tracking mechanisms such as gimbals, beam steering systems, or antenna pointing systemsStrong understanding of mechanism performance analysis including kinematics, structural dynamics, bearing life, and disturbance modelingFamiliarity with GNC interface requirements for stabilized pointing and tracking applicationsDemonstrated ability to lead engineering teams and deliver complex hardware on schedulePreferred Skills and ExperienceExperience with space-qualified mechanisms, including lubrication, materials selection, and life testing for vacuum and thermal environmentsFamiliarity with solar array drive assemblies, reaction wheels, or other spacecraft momentum and articulation systemsExperience with motor control firmware development and closed-loop servo system designKnowledge of spacecraft structural analysis tools (NASTRAN, ANSYS, or similar) and mechanism simulation environmentsExperience with 1G test stand design or other gravity off-load test approaches for validating on-orbit mechanism behaviorFamiliarity with MIL-SPEC and NASA standards applicable to spacecraft mechanisms (e.g., GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-810)Experience working in a fast-paced, startup environment or a similarly dynamic settingCompensationBase Salary: $155,000-$230,000Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental LeaveYour actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.Additional RequirementsAbility to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearanceWork Location —this role will be onsite at either our Centennial, CO or Long Beach, CA locations, with travel to other sites as needed.Work environment —the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.Physical demands —the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.