Solar Array Engineer

*Reports to: *Vice President, Space Business Unit *About the Company* Atomic-6 manufactures advanced composites for space, air, sea, and ground systems. We exist to put high-performance composites into extreme environments faster than conventional processes allow—higher fiber content, lower voids, shorter cycles, hardware that is lighter and stronger than the standard. Come build what must survive ocean to orbit and see your work perform in the field. *Role and Responsibilities* The Solar Array Engineer is the responsible engineer for developing a complete deployable space solar array from a blank sheet through flight. The role owns Light Wing™ and successor arrays as a product: architecture, structure, mechanisms, photovoltaics, electrical performance over life, thermal and dynamic behavior, qualification, suppliers, and production. Primary duties include: · Define array architecture from mission requirements: power, mass, stowed volume, deployment, stiffness, pointing, and environments. · Design the full assembly—composite structure, deployment and latch mechanisms, photovoltaic layout, harnessing, and interfaces to the spacecraft. · Estimate beginning-of-life and end-of-life electrical performance, including degradation, temperature, shadowing, and stringing, and close those numbers with the customer power budget. · Develop CAD models and production drawings with GD&T sufficient to produce and verify the array. · Develop FEA models and demonstrate structural, dynamic, and thermal margins for launch, deployment, and on-orbit conditions. · Write the qualification and acceptance plan (deployment, vibe, thermal vacuum, electrical) and drive test through completion. · Select cells, coverglass, adhesives, composites, mechanisms, and other long-lead items; identify suppliers and load them in MRP. · Develop manufacturing and test plans and work with automation engineers on production workstations so the design can be built at rate. · Run process qualifications using design of experiments and statistical process control where the process controls array performance or yield. · Complete design-for-manufacturing changes so rate, yield, and cost targets are met without breaking flight margins. · Review on-orbit or field performance and convert findings into design or process changes on the next article. · Work with materials engineering on material systems, process windows, and space-environment effects. · Protect export-controlled technical data and CUI in designs, analyses, and test data. *Minimum Qualifications* The following are the minimum qualifications required for eligibility for this role. · Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. · 4+ years developing deployable space solar arrays, including design and manufacturing. Must have been the responsible engineer—or the lead mechanical/electrical engineer—on at least one array taken from concept through qualification or flight. · Demonstrated ability to size an array electrically over life (BOL/EOL power, temperature, degradation, stringing). · Demonstrated ability to design the structure and deployment system of a space solar array, not only a panel or bracket. · Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX preferred) and GD&T. · Proficiency in structural, dynamic, and thermal analysis of space hardware, including FEA. · Demonstrated ability to work in a small, dynamic team environment with minimal oversight. This role will not have a separate array systems engineer, stress group, and power group sitting behind it. *Preferred Skills and Experience* The following are used as discriminators for candidates that exceed the basic qualifications above. · Led a new solar array product from requirements through first flight article. · Experience with design of experiments, statistical process control, and process qualification. · Experience specifying and qualifying photovoltaic cells, CIC assemblies, or array-level electrical test. · Familiarity with manufacturing processes used on composites, bonded assemblies, and metals: lamination, bonding, fastening, machining, and related methods. · Experience with Atomic-6-class composite processes (out-of-autoclave, autoclave, infusion) or other deployable space structures. · Experience writing and running vibe, TVAC, and deployment test campaigns. *Additional Requirements* This is a hands-on role. Time on the factory floor is required working directly with hardware. Ability to work flexible hours on-site to support builds, test, and production. Travel to other Atomic-6 sites, vendors, and test facilities may be required. After-hours work is required when hardware, test, or production issues stop the line. *Compensation and Benefits* Compensation will vary based on demonstrated proficiency in skills, professional experience, and education. Benefits include: · Flexible working hours · Holidays: 9 federal holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day) · Health Insurance: You are entitled to voluntarily participate in medical, vision, and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance. · Stock Incentive: Company stock incentive plan is available. · Bonuses: Annual bonuses and performance-based bonuses are discretionary. *Eligibility Requirements* Atomic-6 is an equal opportunity employer. This position has a requirement to access technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls such as EAR and ITAR. Employment is contingent on obtaining any necessary license, and applicants will be required to answer certain questions for export control purposes. Employer may choose not to apply for a license for such individuals whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code may require authorization and may decline to proceed with an applicant on that basis alone. Pay: $125,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year Benefits: * Dental insurance * Flexible schedule * Health insurance * Life insurance * Parental leave * Relocation assistance * Vision insurance Education: * Bachelor's (Required) Experience: * Space Solar Array: 4 years (Required) Ability to Relocate: * Yulee, FL 32097: Relocate with an employer provided relocation package (Required) Work Location: In person