Mechanical Designer (Contingent)
Design
Toronto, ON, Canada
CAD 100,622-150,622 / year + Equity
Position Status: Contingent Upon Program Award
We are seeking a Mechanical Designer to lead the development and verification of spacecraft mechanical subsystems.
This role combines mechanical design, structural and thermal analysis, prototyping, testing, manufacturing support, and subsystem integration to deliver flight-ready hardware. The successful candidate will own complete spacecraft mechanical subsystems from concept through qualification, working closely with systems, RF, electrical, software, manufacturing, AIT, and mission operations teams to develop robust and scalable solutions.
The ideal candidate thrives in environments where performance, mass, manufacturability, reliability, schedule, and cost must all be balanced to achieve mission success. They are equally comfortable performing analysis, building hardware, leading technical discussions, and solving complex multidisciplinary problems.
This role is an opportunity to directly influence the next generation of Kepler spacecraft while helping establish the engineering practices, technical rigor, and culture that will enable Kepler to become a world leader in spacecraft development and space infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the development of spacecraft mechanical subsystems from concept through flight qualification and successful transition into production
Own subsystem-level mechanical development activities including mechanical design, structural analysis, thermal analysis, integration, verification, testing, and qualification
Drive technical trade studies and design decisions using first-principles engineering, simulation, testing, and sound engineering judgment
Balance subsystem performance, mass, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost objectives throughout development
Demonstrate compliance with subsystem requirements through analysis, testing, and documented margins of safety
Develop and maintain structural and thermal models used to predict hardware performance and guide design decisions
Define verification strategies and success criteria aligned with system requirements and mission objectives
Plan and execute prototype builds, environmental testing, and qualification campaigns to reduce technical risk and validate design performance
Correlate simulation results with physical testing to continuously improve model fidelity and engineering confidence
Lead root-cause investigations and drive complex technical issues through to resolution
Work closely with systems, RF, electrical, software, manufacturing, supply chain, AIT, and mission operations teams to develop integrated spacecraft solutions
Facilitate technical discussions across disciplines, clearly communicating design intent, trade-offs, risks, and recommendations
Coordinate subsystem activities across stakeholders to ensure successful integration, verification, and delivery
Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering processes, design methodologies, analysis approaches, and verification practices
Act as a peer reviewer, mentor junior engineers, and provide technical leadership within project teams
Promote a culture of technical rigor, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning
Subsystem Development & Ownership
Analysis, Verification & Risk Reduction
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Engineering Excellence
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent
5+ years of experience developing mechanical systems from concept through validation
Strong understanding of structural mechanics, heat transfer, dynamics, mechanical design, and hardware integration
Experience performing structural and thermal analyses supported by simulation and physical testing
Experience with one or more CAD platforms such as Onshape, Creo, SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent
- Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation while adapting to evolving technologies and best practices
Understanding of design for manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test principles
Strong communication and documentation skills working within multidisciplinary engineering teams
Comfortable operating in a hands-on development environment involving prototyping, testing, troubleshooting, and hardware development
Bonus Points:
Experience developing spacecraft, satellite, aerospace, or other mission-critical hardware
Experience with Simcenter 3D, Simcenter/NX NASTRAN, Simcenter Space Systems Thermal, or equivalent analysis tools
Experience leading subsystem-level qualification and verification activities
Familiarity with ESA ECSS, NASA, or equivalent aerospace structural, thermal, and design standards
Experience supporting hardware transition from development into production
Eligibility for Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licensure in a Canadian jurisdiction
Salary Range: $100,622 - 150,622 CAD