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Job Summary

The SPRL (Space Physics Research Laboratory) in the College of Engineering is seeking an experiences, highly motivated Mechanical Engineer to provide technical and project support, and leadership for current and future space mission and instrument development projects.

SPRL Labs is a facility of the College of Engineering that serves clients who are faculty, government agencies (such as NASA and DoD), and commercial companies in the development of unique integrated systems and instrumentation that are often used in challenging environments (e.g. space, arctic, above/on/below the water).  The SPRL Lab professional staff, with faculty and researchers, have built more than 35 space systems and instruments; instrumented numerous sounding rockets, balloon and aircraft; and developed ground-based instruments. For seven decades, this lab has been one of the a handful of university centers able to conceive, design, construct, test, and operate space flight instruments - a truly "end-to-end" operation.

Responsibilities*

• Design mechanical systems, components, and assemblies for high-voltage instrumentation, including neutral and ion mass spectrometers, energetic particle detectors, ion thruster components, test fixtures, and vacuum chambers.
• Perform structural and thermal analyses to support the design, development, and validation of scientific instruments and small satellite systems.
• Develop and execute mechanical testing and verification plans to ensure designs meet performance, reliability, and mission requirements.
• Design mechanical components for spaceflight applications, incorporating considerations such as vacuum environments, thermal performance, material selection, and system reliability.
• Develop fabrication and assembly solutions utilizing machining, additive manufacturing, bonding, and other mechanical manufacturing techniques.
• Evaluate and address the challenges associated with space and other harsh operating environments, including radiation exposure, thermal cycling, structural loading, and material compatibility.
• Create and maintain detailed mechanical drawings and documentation with appropriate geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) to support manufacturing and assembly.
• Utilize 3D CAD software to develop mechanical designs, models, and assemblies using tools such as SolidWorks, Autodesk AutoCAD, Inventor, Solid Edge, or similar applications.
• Apply finite element analysis (FEA) and structural analysis software, including MSC Nastran, NX Nastran, Femap, ANSYS, or comparable tools, to evaluate and optimize mechanical designs.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the design, fabrication, integration, testing, and verification lifecycle to deliver high-quality spaceflight hardware and instrumentation.

Required Qualifications*

• BS in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering or Physics
• 2 years in mechanical engineering of aerospace systems and instrumentation engineering and project management experience 
• Demonstrated excellence in team leadership, organization and communication skills.
• Must be U.S Citizen/green card holder

Desired Qualifications*

• MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Experience supporting projects and proposals for NASA or DoD

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.