Mechanical Engineer

at  Fleet Space Technologies

ABOUT FLEET SPACE TECHNOLOGIES

Fleet is a space-enabled exploration technology company on a mission to dramatically accelerate the discovery of critical minerals needed to decarbonize our global economy. Electric vehicles and other clean energy technologies are vital elements of the world’s efforts to combat climate change, and these will demand many times more critical minerals than today, with an incremental value of over USD $13 trillion. At the same time, finding new mineral deposits is becoming more challenging as we increasingly exhaust the supply of shallow deposits and are forced to explore deeper underground. Traditional exploration methods are poorly suited to address this challenge, so a new approach is needed.
Our approach is to combine space technology, proprietary seismic sensors, cutting edge Ambient Noise Tomography, and machine learning to provide the world’s first scalable 3D exploration dataset with near-real-time insights to guide active exploration programs far more efficiently to new deposits. This is Fleet’s flagship product, ExoSphere - a space-enabled solution for mineral exploration in real-time, in 3D, and under cover with very low environmental impact. Since launching ExoSphere in March 2022, Fleet has signed contracts with over 30 clients including Rio Tinto, Barrick Gold and Core Lithium and completed over 300 Ambient Noise Tomography surveys, more than any other company in the world.
As part of Fleet’s founding vision to connect the Earth, Moon, and Mars, we also apply our technology to innovative solutions for defense and space exploration, including an upcoming mission to the Moon. Headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, Fleet has rapidly grown to over 100 employees including a growing team in the USA, Canada, and beyond. We have raised over AUD $85M in venture funding, backed by premier investors including Blackbird, Grok, and In-Q-Tel.

KEY SKILLS AND REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s (Tertiary) Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related area of study is required;
• At least 3 years of experience in mechanical engineering
• Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) preferably Solidworks
• Strong knowledge of engineering principles, design standards, and manufacturing processes
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) tools like ANSYS and Thermal Desktop
• Understanding of materials properties and their behavior under space conditions, including composites, metals, and polymers
• Experience with environmental testing such as vibration, thermal vacuum, and shock testing
• Proficiency in data acquisition and analysis
• Strong technical writing skills for creating detailed engineering documentation, including specifications, reports, and manuals
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex issues
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Must have full working rights in Australia

THE ROLE

Fleet Space Technologies is seeking a mid-level Mechanical Engineer to join our team of mechanical engineers and join them in developing innovative designs and engineering solutions.
Our mechanical engineering team currently designs satellites going to low earth orbit and even seismic sensors going to the moon, together with our Geodes: passive seismic sensors paired with satellite modems. We are growing rapidly, so we also keep exploring new business lines which often need fast prototypes (using various technologies, including our metal 3D printer!) to see if we should continue with them!
The ideal candidate will have a passion for exploring novel solutions and is deeply invested in finding practical and efficient solutions to complex problems. Reporting to the Lead Mechanical Engineer, you will work closely with various teams, including, systems, RF, electronics, and manufacturing, to ensure that all projects are aligned with company goals and objectives. You will be responsible for overseeing mechanical design of a certain project, including structural, thermal and integration aspects of Fleet’s hardware based products, from concept development to final product delivery, and ensuring that all designs meet the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and functionality.
In addition to design work, you will be deeply involved in implementing new technologies and ideas into useful and efficient products. Your focus will be on optimizing and engineering ideas to ensure that they are technically sound and feasible. The incumbent should expect to engage with a plethora of yet to be defined challenges that will drive revenue for the company, inspire/challenge them technically, and help change the world (while taking Fleet interplanetary)!

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

This role will be responsible for, but not limited to:

• Perform a full lifecycle product development including designing, developing, prototyping, and implementation for manufacturing.
• Design mechanical components and systems for spacecrafts, satellites, and related ground support equipment
• Develop detailed CAD models and engineering drawings according to Fleet standards and ISO 128-1:2003
• Perform structural, thermal, and fluid dynamics analyzes to ensure systems can withstand environment assigned to its usage
• Use finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for simulations
• Oversee the integration of mechanical systems with electrical and other subsystems. Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including systems engineering, Electronics and RF
• Ensure designs comply with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company guidelines.
• Implement innovative solutions to enhance the reliability and efficiency of space systems
• Troubleshoot and resolve mechanical issues that arise during testing, integration, or manufacturing.