Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer

About Nova Solvers

Nova Solvers is an advanced engineering company developing spacecraft, avionics, sensing systems, autonomous technologies, and mission-critical solutions for commercial, civil, defense, and national security customers. Our team specializes in transforming complex challenges into innovative, high-performance systems that operate in the most demanding environments. We are passionate about building technologies that enable the next generation of space missions and defense capabilities.

The Role

Nova Solvers is seeking an entry-to-junior level Mechanical Engineer to support the design and development of spacecraft, payloads, avionics hardware, and ruggedized electronics systems.

This is a hands-on role spanning spacecraft mechanical design, structures, electronics packaging, VPX chassis, heat frames, thermal management, manufacturing, integration, and environmental qualification.

You will work closely with electrical, systems, manufacturing, and test engineers to take hardware from initial concepts and CAD through analysis, fabrication, assembly, spacecraft integration, qualification, and production.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on assembly and integration of spacecraft, payload, and avionics hardware, including precision mechanical assembly, fastener installation and torque verification, fit checks, measurements, inspections, and troubleshooting using torque wrenches, calibrated tools, and other mechanical assembly equipment.
• Support mechanical design and configuration of spacecraft, payloads, structures, avionics, and mission hardware.
• Develop spacecraft structural components, panels, brackets, equipment mounts, payload interfaces, enclosures, and mechanical assemblies.
• Design VPX/OpenVPX chassis, heat frames, card cages, rugged electronics enclosures, and conduction-cooled avionics hardware.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, manufacturing drawings, BOMs, and engineering documentation.
• Support spacecraft layout and packaging including avionics, payloads, sensors, harnesses, connectors, and other subsystems.
• Develop mechanical and thermal interfaces between spacecraft structures, electronics, payloads, and other hardware.
• Design thermal paths using heat frames, wedge locks, chassis structures, thermal interface materials, heat sinks, and other thermal management methods.
• Perform mechanical and thermal calculations and support structural and thermal analysis.
• Evaluate designs for strength, stiffness, mass, thermal performance, launch loads, tolerances, manufacturability, and environmental requirements.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance analysis, material selection, fastener selection, and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
• Work directly with machine shops, sheet metal fabricators, thermal solution vendors, and other suppliers from quotation through fabrication and inspection.
• Review vendor feedback, first-article hardware, inspection results, and manufacturing issues and incorporate improvements into designs.
• Support spacecraft and payload assembly, mechanical integration, fit checks, troubleshooting, and hardware modifications.
• Develop fixtures, tooling, and mechanical ground support equipment.
• Support vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and thermal vacuum (TVAC) qualification testing, including test setup, instrumentation, execution, and post-test evaluation.
• Support development of new spacecraft hardware, mechanical products, reusable designs, and internal engineering capabilities.

What We Look For

We are looking for engineers who enjoy solving challenging mechanical problems and taking ownership of flight hardware. Successful candidates are highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and capable of balancing analysis, design, manufacturing, and integration considerations to deliver mission-ready systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 0–3 years of professional engineering experience.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanics of materials, statics, dynamics, heat transfer, and material properties.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar.
• Ability to create and interpret mechanical drawings.
• Understanding of mechanical and thermal design fundamentals including structural load paths, conduction, convection, radiation, thermal resistance, and thermal expansion.
• Familiarity with GD&T, tolerances, fits, fasteners, and mechanical interfaces.
• Familiarity with CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, additive manufacturing, or similar manufacturing processes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Willingness to work directly with hardware, vendors, manufacturing teams, and environmental test equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Internship, university project, research, or professional experience involving spacecraft, aerospace, or complex mechanical hardware.
• Experience with spacecraft structures, payload integration, CubeSats, SmallSats, satellites, launch vehicles, or similar systems.
• Familiarity with VPX/OpenVPX, heat frames, wedge locks, card cages, or rugged electronics packaging.
• Experience with conduction-cooled electronics or thermal management of PCBAs.
• Exposure to structural or thermal analysis using ANSYS, Thermal Desktop, Simcenter, SolidWorks Simulation, or similar tools.
• Experience supporting vibration, shock, thermal cycling, or TVAC testing.
• Experience designing machined, sheet metal, composite, or additively manufactured components.
• Experience working directly with machine shops or manufacturing vendors.
• Familiarity with aerospace drawing practices.

What We Offer

At Nova Solvers, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing advanced technologies that support some of the most challenging missions in space and defense. We provide an environment where individuals can take ownership, contribute directly to mission success, and help build technologies that matter.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Performance-Based Incentive opportunities.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• Company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Paid company holidays.
• Work alongside industry-leading engineers developing advanced space and defense technologies.

Work Environment

This position is primarily onsite and involves spacecraft design, engineering analysis, manufacturing support, hardware integration, and environmental qualification activities. Candidates should be comfortable working in engineering laboratories, cleanrooms, production environments, and spacecraft integration facilities.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to develop the structures, mechanisms, and mechanical systems that enable next-generation spacecraft, advanced payloads, and autonomous space missions. Your work will directly influence mission performance, reliability, and long-term operational success.

Our Vision and Values

We believe that innovation happens when talented people are empowered to solve difficult problems. Our culture is built on technical excellence, integrity, ownership, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering solutions that matter.

We Care Deeply About

• Mission Success
• Technical Excellence
• Innovation and Continuous Learning
• Integrity and Accountability
• Teamwork and Respect
• Delivering Real-World Impact

Location

Torrance, California

This position is primarily onsite to support program execution, customer interaction, and spacecraft development activities.

Security & Export Control

To comply with U.S. Government export control regulations, applicants must be (i) a U.S. citizen or national, (ii) a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder), (iii) a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, (iv) an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. As a result, applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Nova Solvers is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace built on respect, collaboration, and inclusion. We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and believe they strengthen our ability to innovate and solve complex challenges. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

How to Apply

Interested in joining our team? Click the Apply button and email us your resume for consideration.