Mechanical Engineer

SUMMARY:
Our client is seeking a Junior Mechanical Engineer to join their team in Stellenbosch. The successful candidate will develop mechanical solutions according to the standards of the Mechanical Centre of Excellence (CoE), which sets guidelines for mechanical engineering principles, system tools, procedures, best practices, and product/technology roadmaps.

You will be involved in creating mechanical solutions for both Space and Ground segments of spacecraft engineering, including the development of product lifecycle flight hardware models, ground support equipment, testing tools, and jigs.

If you're ready to be part of an innovative and dynamic team, apply now!

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and qualification of engineering solutions to meet product owners', clients', and stakeholders' needs.
• Perform mechanical services efficiently, proactively, and synergistically.
• Involvement in all stages of the mechanical development cycle, including designing, developing, and improving systems and QA processes.
• Develop integrated spacecraft mechanical designs, working with suppliers and subsystem providers.
• Utilize mechanical modeling tools to design and build spacecraft mechanical models.
• Maintain and manage spacecraft mechanical balance budgets.
• Support hardware developers in selecting materials, processes, and tests that comply with mechanical design standards.
• Coordinate mechanical interfaces between spacecraft subsystems.
• Support linking results and outputs of mechanical models to other modeling and simulation software.
• Assist in establishing and documenting environmental/mechanical engineering and system-level design requirements.
• Manage design to meet all physical, mechanical, and environmental requirements.
• Support program milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, IDR, etc.) and Gate Closure.
• Address design non-conformances and resolve issues during production.
• Provide program-observed lessons learned for continuous improvement.
• Investigate emerging technologies to develop future product concepts.
• Develop mechanical verification plans, test procedures, and test environments.
• Execute test procedures and document test results to ensure mechanical system requirements are met.
• Deliver high-quality designs on time as part of a team.
• Participate in estimation planning in an agile environment.
• Continuously improve the core competency of the Mechanical Team.
• Monitor and report to management on plans, progress, and issues.
• Perform technical writing and compile technical procedural documents.
• Develop pragmatic solutions without over-engineering.
• Interact and cooperate with customers on all technical aspects.
• Provide technical leadership for Mechanical Design within projects.
• Support the development, selection, tailoring, and deployment of mechanical design processes, tools, and metrics.
• Ensure compliance with the company product lifecycle management (PLM) standards and processes.
• Ensure compliance with the organization’s system engineering standards.
• Work closely with other engineering disciplines and project managers within an integrated, cross-functional team environment.
• Support project and business development by formulating and compiling statements of work, technical solution plans, pre-feasibility and trade studies, and system concept proposals.
• Establish, declare, report, manage, and mitigate technical risk.
• Produce and submit deliverables for technical review and baselining.
• Perform technical reviews according to the technical review process.
• Facilitate procurement where applicable.
• Lead environmental tests (specifically mechanical vibration) as required.
• Perform additional roles as per agreed assignments in the Engineering RASCI assignment matrix.

• Coordination and finite element method
• Experience in thermal vacuum testing
• Product lifecycle management
• Technical and peer reviews
• Validation and verification
• Engineering change management
• Non-conformances, root cause analyses, waivers, deviations, etc.
• Building a knowledge base for mechanical engineering capabilities

• Honesty and decisiveness
• Trust and integrity
• Forward-thinking and eager to take initiative

• A relevant degree or qualification in mechanical engineering or a related field.