Spacecraft Mechanical Architect

About the role

At ClearSpace we are seeking a Spacecraft Mechanical Architect to lead the mechanical, thermal and propulsion architecture of our spacecraft, ensuring coherent design solutions from concept through launch and operations.

Key responsibilities

• Own and maintain the spacecraft mechanical architecture from concept development through launch and operations.
• Lead definition and management of primary and secondary structures, payload accommodation and mechanical interfaces.
• Support multidisciplinary trade‑offs affecting mass, stiffness, thermal performance, dynamics and manufacturability.
• Coordinate structural, mechanical and thermo‑elastic analyses to justify designs.
• Define mechanical verification philosophy and oversee qualification and acceptance activities.
• Act as primary technical interface for customers, partners and suppliers on mechanical architecture topics.
• Mentor engineers within the Mechanical, Thermal and Propulsion team.

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft development with senior technical responsibility.
• Proven leadership of spacecraft mechanical architecture on complex space projects.
• Strong expertise in spacecraft structures, mechanical layouts and payload accommodation.
• Experience defining and managing mechanical interfaces and configuration evolution.
• Deep understanding of structural analysis, dynamic environments, launch loads and qualification approaches.
• Excellent stakeholder management and ability to present technical solutions to review boards.

Required skills

• Spacecraft structural design and analysis.
• Mechanical layout and payload accommodation engineering.
• Thermo‑elastic and dynamic environment analysis.
• Launch load qualification and verification testing.
• Integration and environmental testing of spacecraft subsystems.
• Familiarity with ECSS standards and ESA project practices.