ClearSpace
Spacecraft Mechanical Architect
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At ClearSpace, we believe in reusability, in affordability driving disruption, and that no progress is real unless it is sustainable.
Our company was founded in 2018 out of the realization that in-orbit servicing and space debris removal are vital services for the future of space exploration and operations. Today ClearSpace has assembled an expert engineering team and is leading the way toward sustainable space operations. From a garage in Switzerland, we now operate across UK and Europe, and are working with world-leading institutions and companies to bring our dream of a sustainable space ecosystem to life.
We are looking for a Spacecraft Mechanical Architect to join our team!
The Role
The successful candidate will be a key member of the Mechanical, Thermal and Propulsion (MTP) team and will be responsible for the design and development, and supporting procurement, testing and verification of the spacecraft mechanical subsystem. The Mechanical Architect will own the overall spacecraft thermo-mechanical architecture and serve as the primary technical focal point for all mechanical, thermal, propulsion or harness accommodation related topics. There is also an opportunity for the right candidate to act as the lead coordinator for the Mechanical, Thermal, and Propulsion domains on the mission, ensuring coherent spacecraft design solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and maintain the spacecraft mechanical architecture from concept development through launch and operations.
- Lead the definition and management of the spacecraft mechanical design, including primary and secondary structures, payload accommodation and mechanical interfaces.
- Support multidisciplinary trade-offs affecting spacecraft mass, stiffness, thermal performance, dynamic behaviour, deployable systems and manufacturability.
- Ensure consistency between spacecraft configuration, accommodation, accessibility, assembly and integration constraints.
- Lead the definition and management of spacecraft mechanical interfaces, including payload, launcher, separation system, ground support equipment and AIT interfaces.
- Coordinate structural, mechanical and thermo-elastic analyses necessary to justify the design.
- Support subsystem design reviews and ensure that MTP-related design decisions are technically sound, traceable and compliant with mission requirements.
- Define the mechanical verification philosophy and ensure successful execution of qualification and acceptance activities.
- Support anomaly investigations, non-conformance reviews and root cause analyses related to MTP equipment and assemblies.
- Act as the primary technical interface for customers, partners and suppliers on mechanical architecture topics.
- Mentor engineers within the MTP team and promote engineering excellence and best practices.
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Must Have
- 10+ years of experience in spacecraft development, including significant involvement in spacecraft platform design.
- Proven experience leading spacecraft mechanical architecture or equivalent senior technical roles on complex space projects.
- Strong expertise in spacecraft structures, mechanical layouts and payload accommodation.
- Experience defining and managing spacecraft mechanical interfaces and configuration evolution.
- Strong understanding of structural analysis, dynamic environments, launch loads and qualification approaches.
- Experience balancing technical, programmatic and schedule constraints to drive design decisions.
- Proven capability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams and drive technical convergence.
- Experience supporting spacecraft integration, environmental testing and verification campaigns.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to present and defend technical solutions before customers and review boards.
- Proven track record of successful delivery of complex spacecraft developments.
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Nice to Have
- MSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering or similar.
- Experience with active debris removal, rendezvous and proximity operations or servicing spacecraft.
- Experience with deployable structures and mechanisms.
- Familiarity with ECSS standards and ESA projects.
- Knowledge of thermal and propulsion subsystem design drivers.
- Experience working with international suppliers and industrial partners.
- Strong mentoring and technical leadership experience.
- Agile and adaptable mindset within fast-moving development programmes.
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