Mechanical Engineering Manager

About Us

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

As the Manager of the Mechanical Design Engineering team, you will lead a group of talented space vehicle Mechanical Engineers responsible for the design of space vehicle systems, structures, mechanisms, components, and ground support equipment. You will define and maintain an effective design process that strikes the right balance of rigor, technical performance, and risk to meet challenging program objectives and schedules. You will equip your team with the technical training, mentorship, tools, and resources to be successful. You will work across BlackSky programs to ensure each program has the appropriate level of design support. Through all these actions, you will be responsible for the technical quality and performance of mechanical designs at BlackSky.

In addition to these management responsibilities, you will contribute directly as a Design Engineer throughout the full program lifecycle of our satellite systems and components, from concept to production. You will develop initial concepts of satellite structures, system layouts, and support equipment based on requirements and objectives, then apply BlackSky best practices, mentorship from senior engineers, and your own skills and intuition to fully mature those concepts. You will create CAD models, select materials, generate and maintain manufacturing documentation, and support production. You will interact with flight, prototype, and ground support hardware. You will do all this as part of a highly skilled multi-functional technical team focused on producing state-of-the-art satellites.

Responsibilities

Management duties

• Own the technical and schedule performance for a team of 4 - 8 Mechanical Design Engineers.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce design processes and guidelines that balance the criticality of spacecraft engineering with practicality and focus on our internal objectives, risk postures, and goals.
• Establish standards for the effective use of Creo CAD and Windchill PLM, ensuring consistent modeling, drawing, configuration management, and release practices.
• Grow and maintain the technical acumen of the design team in the area of satellite mechanical design by developing professional development plans, challenging job assignments, training, and mentorship that balance individual career goals with program demands.
• Manage team performance and alignment with regular reviews and goal setting.
• Answer the call for Mechanical Design Engineering support across BlackSky with staff assignments to programs, team task planning, workload prioritization and deconfliction; as well as recruiting and onboarding new hires and management of contract support.
• Ensure the Mechanical Design Engineering team follows company, department, and team processes.
• Partner closely with BlackSky Space Vehicle Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain teams to ensure Design Engineering products are fully and successfully implemented as intended, collect feedback for continued improvement, and address emergent needs.

Duties as a technical lead and individual contributor

• Lead moderate scale technical efforts involving internal and external collaboration and full program scope consideration, applying experience and engineering judgement to develop technical plans for your work and others that meet program requirements and schedule.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver space vehicle designs, production plans, and test strategies that support program cost, schedule, and quality goals.
• Design spacecraft mechanical structures, assemblies, and components with CAD software (Creo).
• Generate and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation such as part drawings, assembly drawings, and bills of materials.
• Document design and analysis data in technical reports, presentations, and manufacturing systems.
• Apply engineering judgment to make informed decisions when data is incomplete, balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and schedule.
• Support manufacturing and production teams by providing design intent, resolving build issues, reviewing nonconformance reports, and implementing corrective actions.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment as needed to support integration and test activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar engineering discipline.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in a mechanical engineering role
• At least two (2) years of experience leading engineering teams as a people manager or technical lead with formal leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrable experience working in the satellite or launch industry maturing designs from initial concepts to detailed manufacturing drawings
• Working knowledge of design requirements for space systems
• Experience leading teams to deliver against challenging technical and/or schedule requirements
• High proficiency with Creo CAD software to develop part and assembly models, and manufacturing drawings within a Windchill environment
• Strong understanding of the ASME Y14.5 dimensioning and tolerancing specification
• Must be a US Person

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft mechanisms
• Experience with wire harness design

Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits-eligible employees includes

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Mac or PC? Your choice!
• Awesome swag

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $175,000-205,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

EEO/Pay Transparency Statements: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf