Mechanical Engineer - Tooling/Controls, Satellites (Starlink)
The Mechanical Engineer for Tooling/Controls at Confidential Client's Starlink satellite team is responsible for designing and implementing high-rate manufacturing tooling and custom machinery to produce mission-critical optical fiber connections. This role involves owning the full lifecycle of electromechanical equipment, from concept through production, to enable scalable, precise, and automated assembly processes that support next-generation satellite manufacturing. The position requires collaboration with engineering, quality, and production teams to optimize manufacturing efficiency and reliability.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Why this role matters
Join Confidential Client as a Mechanical Engineer on the tooling and controls team building high-rate production tooling for satellite (Starlink) optical fiber harnesses. You’ll own electromechanical systems from concept through commissioning, implement machine controls, and enable reliable, high-volume production of mission-critical hardware.
Responsibilities
- Stand up internal high-rate optical fiber harness termination — move a process from development equipment to production-capable machinery
- Design tooling, fixtures, mechanisms, and automation to terminate, assemble, and test flight hardware at rate
- Own the electromechanical stack on designed equipment: structure, motion, sensors, actuators, and machine controls
- Lead projects through concept, fabrication, controls bring-up, and production introduction
- Partner with harness engineers, quality, and production to develop process and equipment in parallel with product design
- Solve precision alignment, repeatability, cycle-time, and first-pass yield challenges
- Assemble, wire, program, debug, and commission equipment on the production floor
Basic qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, mechatronics, electrical, manufacturing, or related engineering/STEM discipline
- 1+ years designing mechanical systems using 3D CAD and 2D drawings (internships, co-ops, and university projects count)
- 1+ years implementing controls on mechanical systems — motion, sensors, actuators, PLC or equivalent (internships, co-ops, and projects count)
Preferred skills & experience
- 3+ years in custom machine design, production tooling, or automated assembly equipment
- Experience with electromechanical systems: motors, actuators, linear rails, bearings, pneumatics, sensors, and precision locating features
- Hands-on machine controls experience: PLC or industrial motion controllers, servo/stepper systems, I/O, safety circuits, and HMI
- Familiarity with precision assembly processes (fiber optics, cable/harness build, potting/curing, tight-tolerance joining and inspection)
- Ability to perform structures and mechanism hand calculations and design for manufacturability
- Familiarity with drafting standards and GD&T
- Practical knowledge of common manufacturing processes (mills, lathes, CNC, sheet metal, welding) and hands-on build experience
- Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter or equivalent CAD/PDM workflows
- Experience with manufacturing process development, PFMEA, and error-proofing
Additional requirements
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support mission-critical deadlines
- Role may be subject to export control or ITAR restrictions; candidates must comply with applicable regulations
Compensation & benefits
Pay ranges (posted):
- Level 1: $100,000.00 - $135,000.00 (base salary)
- Level 2: $115,000.00 - $165,000.00 (base salary)
Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case based on job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience. Base salary is one part of total compensation; eligible employees may receive long-term incentives, discretionary bonuses, stock purchase opportunities, and access to medical, vision, dental, 401(k), disability and life insurance, paid parental leave, vacation, holidays, and other benefits. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state law. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants as required by law.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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