WHO ARE WE? Sateliot is a Barcelona-based startup in the New Space sector, becoming the first satellite telecommunications operator that will provide integral and continuous connectivity to all the elements that will make up the massive Internet of Things (IoT) universe under the 5G protocol. In order to do so, Sateliot is launching a constellation of last generation nanosatellites located at low altitude that act as mobile towers. Sateliot is the perfect complement for large telecommunications companies by providing them with the necessary infrastructure where terrestrial technologies do not arrive.

YOUR MISSION Sateliot is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical and thermal-structural engineering across the full lifecycle of an advanced LEO satellite platform and payload antenna system. This role requires a deep first-principles approach to mechanical design, combined with hands‑on expertise in developing lightweight, deployable, semi‑rigid space structures that must survive launch loads, deploy reliably in orbit, and maintain performance through aggressive LEO thermal cycling. The successful candidate will take ownership from early concept and detailed design through manufacturing, qualification, integration, testing, and on‑orbit support.

Your Main Functions Mechanical Architecture & Structural Leadership

Own the mechanical design of the satellite bus structure and payload antenna assemblies.

Lead architecture decisions using physics‑based first principles reasoning, balancing mass, stiffness, thermal stability, and manufacturability.

Drive structural trade‑offs for LEO‑class spacecraft where volume and mass efficiency are critical.

Deployable & Lightweight Space Structures





Design and qualify deployable mechanisms and semi‑rigid lightweight structures (antenna deployment systems, panels, booms, hinges).

Ensure robust repeatability, stiffness, and dimensional stability after deployment.

Address latch design, hold‑down release mechanisms, tolerances, and deployment dynamics in orbit.

LEO Orbital Mechanical Environment Expertise

Design spacecraft structures for the unique challenges of LEO operation, including:

High‑frequency thermal cycling (eclipse transitions)

Thermo‑elastic distortion affecting payload pointing and RF performance

Atomic oxygen degradation of exposed materials

Microgravity‑induced structural behaviour changes

Launch Survivability & Mechanical Qualification

Ensure all mechanical systems meet launcher and environmental requirements, including:

Random vibration

Acoustic loading

Shock events (separation, pyro‑shock)

Define qualification and acceptance approaches suitable for LEO constellation‑style deployment, balancing reliability and production cadence.

Full Engineering Lifecycle Ownership

Lead mechanical development through the complete lifecycle:

Concept design and prototyping

Detailed CAD and manufacturing release

Supplier engagement and production readiness

Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT)





Qualification campaigns (vibration, thermal vacuum, deployment testing)

Structural Analysis & Verification

Oversee structural analysis activities, including:

FEM development and correlation

Modal analysis, static margins, buckling, dynamic response

Establish verification plans compliant with ECSS/NASA/launcher requirements.

Support hardware test execution, anomaly resolution, and design iteration.

Cross‑Functional Technical Leadership

Act as mechanical technical authority interfacing with systems, RF, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and mission teams.

Mentor engineers and elevate structural/mechanical rigor across the organization.

REQUIREMENTS General

MSc or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.

Professional Experience

10+ years of experience delivering flight mechanical hardware for spacecraft or high‑reliability aerospace systems.

Strong first‑principles structural and thermal‑mechanical reasoning capability.

Proven experience designing for:

Launch vibration and shock environments

Thermal‑vacuum operation in LEO

Deployable spacecraft structures and antenna systems

Tools & Technical Competencies

Structural simulation: ANSYS, Abaqus

Understanding of coupled thermal‑structural effects preferred

Experience with qualification documentation, test correlation, and margin tracking

Personal Attributes

Physics‑driven engineer with deep curiosity and rigor

End‑to‑end ownership mindset across design → test → flight

Strong balance of analytical depth and practical build/tes

📌 Principal Mechanical Engineer (Barcelona)
🏢 Sateliot
📍 Barcelona