--- title: 'Mechanical Design Manager at BlackSky' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-design-manager-blacksky-tukwila-s7x6b1qx6mrr' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-03' --- # Mechanical Design Manager at BlackSky - **Company:** BlackSky - **Location:** Tukwila, WA - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-10-29 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/blacksky/jobs/8872060002?gh_jid=8872060002 ## Job description Mechanical Design Manager About Us: BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun. As the Manager of the Mechanical Design Engineering team, you will lead a group of talented space vehicle Mechanical Engineers responsible for the design of space vehicle systems, structures, mechanisms, components, and ground support equipment.  You will define and maintain an effective design process that strikes the right balance of rigor, technical performance, and risk to meet challenging program objectives and schedules.  You will equip your team with the technical training, mentorship, tools, and resources to be successful.  You will work across BlackSky programs to ensure each program has the appropriate level of design support.  Through all these actions, you will be responsible for the technical quality and performance of mechanical designs at BlackSky. In addition to these management responsibilities, you will contribute directly as a Design Engineer throughout the full program lifecycle of our satellite systems and components, from concept to production.  You will develop initial concepts of satellite structures, system layouts, and support equipment based on requirements and objectives, then apply BlackSky best practices, mentorship from senior engineers, and your own skills and intuition to fully mature those concepts.  You will create CAD models, select materials, generate and maintain manufacturing documentation, and support production.  You will interact with flight, prototype, and ground support hardware.  You will do all this as part of a highly skilled multi-functional technical team focused on producing state-of-the-art satellites. Responsibilities: Management duties - Own the technical and schedule performance for a team of 4 - 8 Mechanical Design Engineers. - Establish, maintain, and enforce design processes and guidelines that balance the criticality of spacecraft engineering with practicality and focus on our internal objectives, risk postures, and goals. - Establish standards for the effective use of Creo CAD and Windchill PLM, ensuring consistent modeling, drawing, configuration management, and release practices. - Grow and maintain the technical acumen of the design team in the area of satellite mechanical design by developing professional development plans, challenging job assignments, training, and mentorship that balance individual career goals with program demands. - Manage team performance and alignment with regular reviews and goal setting. - Answer the call for Mechanical Design Engineering support across BlackSky with staff assignments to programs, team task planning, workload prioritization and deconfliction; as well as recruiting and onboarding new hires and management of contract support. - Ensure the Mechanical Design Engineering team follows company, department, and team processes. - Partner closely with BlackSky Space Vehicle Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain teams to ensure Design Engineering products are fully and successfully implemented as intended, collect feedback for continued improvement, and address emergent needs. Duties as a technical lead and individual contributor - Lead moderate scale technical efforts involving internal and external collaboration and full program scope consideration, applying experience and engineering judgement to develop technical plans for your work and others that meet program requirements and schedule. - Work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver space vehicle designs, production plans, and test strategies that support program cost, schedule, and quality goals. - Design spacecraft mechanical structures, assemblies, and components with CAD software (Creo). - Generate and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation such as part drawings, assembly drawings, and bills of materials. - Document design and analysis data in technical reports, presentations, and manufacturing systems. - Apply engineering judgment to make informed decisions when data is incomplete, balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and schedule. - Support manufacturing and production teams by providing design intent, resolving build issues, reviewing nonconformance reports, and implementing corrective actions. - Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment as needed to support integration and test activities. Required Qualifications: - Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar engineering discipline. - A minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in a mechanical engineering role - At least two (2) years of experience leading engineering teams as a people manager or technical lead with formal leadership responsibilities. - Demonstrable experience working in the satellite or launch industry maturing designs from initial concepts to detailed manufacturing drawings - Working knowledge of design requirements for space systems - Experience leading teams to deliver against challenging technical and/or schedule requirements - High proficiency with Creo CAD software to develop part and assembly models, and manufacturing drawings within a Windchill environment - Strong understanding of the ASME Y14.5 dimensioning and tolerancing specification - Must be a US Person Preferred Qualifications: - Experience with spacecraft mechanisms - Experience with wire harness design Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits-eligible employees includes: - Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance - BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses! - 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more - 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match - Flexible Spending Accounts - Employee Stock Purchase Program - Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs - Employer matching donations - Professional development - Mac or PC? Your choice! - Awesome swag The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $175,000-205,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA. BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. EEO/Pay Transparency Statements: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf ## About BlackSky ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: BlackSky is a real-time, space-based intelligence company that delivers on-demand, high-frequency satellite imagery, analytics, and monitoring of critical global locations, assets, and events. - **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: BKSY) - **Headquarters**: Herndon, Virginia, USA (with a satellite manufacturing facility in Tukwila, Washington) - **Founded**: 2013 (as BlackSky Global, a spin-off from Spaceflight Industries) - **Founders**: Brian E. Bjelde, Nick Merski, and Jordan Tate ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Earth Observation / Space-based Intelligence / Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) - **Target customers**: B2B, primarily serving government defense and intelligence agencies (US and international), along with commercial enterprises in sectors like maritime, energy, and infrastructure. - **Mission or purpose statement**: To dramatically accelerate Earth observation from space for real-time monitoring. BlackSky enables customers to see, understand, and anticipate change for a decisive strategic advantage. ## Products & Services - **BlackSky Spectra®**: The company’s core software platform. It is a purpose-built, space-based intelligence platform for dynamic monitoring. It integrates tasking, collection, and AI-driven analytics to deliver actionable insights (e.g., object detection, change monitoring) in under 90 minutes on average. *Type*: SaaS / Analytics Platform. - **Satellite Constellation (Gen-2 & Gen-3)**: BlackSky owns and operates a proprietary fleet of high-resolution satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). The Gen-3 constellation, launched in 2025, is designed to be the world’s largest very high-resolution constellation by end of 2026. This provides high-revisit, low-latency tasking and data collection. *Type*: Hardware (Spacecraft) / Data Service. - **BlackSky Assured**: A subscription-based service offering dedicated, prioritized access to satellite tasking and data for persistent monitoring of specific areas of interest. *Type*: Service / Subscription. - **BlackSky On-Demand**: A flexible, worldwide tasking service for ad-hoc intelligence needs. *Type*: Service. - **Third-party Data Integration**: Through Spectra, users can access and analyze data from third-party satellite partners, creating a “virtual constellation.” *Type*: Platform Feature. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Market cap is approximately $350–$400 million (as of mid-2026, subject to market fluctuations). *Source*: Public market data. - **Key Metric**: As a public company, annual revenue is reported. For 2025, BlackSky reported revenue of approximately $107 million (a year-over-year increase of 35%). *Source*: BlackSky 2025 Annual Report (SEC 10-K). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Key institutional investors include entities like Neuberger Berman and AWM Investment Company. Strategic partners include government clients (e.g., U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, U.S. Space Force, international defense ministries) and commercial platform partners. - **Growth Signals**: - **Gen-3 Constellation Deployment**: Rapidly scaling its next-generation satellite fleet, with four Gen-3 satellites already operational. - **International Expansion**: Signed a new eight-figure international contract in March 2026 for “accelerated delivery of Gen-3 sovereign space-based intelligence solution.” - **Revenue Growth**: 35% revenue growth in 2025, demonstrating strong market demand. - **New Contract Wins**: Multiple seven-figure contracts announced in early 2026 for “Assured” services with international defense customers. ## Competitive Advantages - **Vertically Integrated Model**: BlackSky designs, manufactures, and operates its own satellites (in Tukwila, WA) and owns its software platform (Spectra). This end-to-end control allows for rapid iteration, cost optimization, and a tightly integrated hardware-software system. - **Speed & Low Latency**: The company is built on a culture of speed. Its platform delivers imagery and analytics in under 90 minutes on average, a key differentiator for time-sensitive defense and intelligence missions. - **AI-Powered Analytics**: BlackSky Spectra incorporates automated detection and classification models for vessels, aircraft, and vehicles, turning raw imagery into actionable intelligence at scale, freeing human analysts for higher-level tasks. - **First-of-its-Kind Platform**: BlackSky is recognized as the only purpose-built, real-time space-based intelligence platform that seamlessly combines tasking, collection, and analytics. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling the Gen-3 Constellation**: The primary strategic focus is on deploying the Gen-3 satellite fleet to achieve the world’s largest very high-resolution constellation, dramatically increasing capacity, revisit rates, and image quality. - **Deepening Government & Defense Relationships**: Targeting larger, multi-year contracts with both U.S. and allied international defense and intelligence agencies, particularly for the “Assured” subscription model which provides predictable recurring revenue. - **Expanding Commercial Vertical Markets**: Growing adoption in commercial sectors (e.g., supply chain monitoring, infrastructure security, insurance) by demonstrating the value of time-sensitive, AI-driven intelligence. - **AI & Automation Leadership**: Continuing to invest heavily in AI and machine learning capabilities within Spectra to automate more of the intelligence workflow and maintain a technological edge. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-Driven Impact**: Employees directly contribute to global security and situational awareness. The company states its work provides “global impact” by supporting real-world operations for national security and disaster response. - **Rapid Growth & Professional Development**: As a fast-growing, public company scaling its satellite constellation, BlackSky offers significant opportunities for advancement and responsibility, particularly in engineering, operations, and data science. - **Culture of Speed & Innovation**: The company emphasizes a lean, innovative culture where employees work alongside “bright and passionate people” on cutting-edge space technology challenges. The culture is described as one of tremendous professional growth. - **Work-Life Balance**: Employee testimonials on the careers page specifically highlight “healthy work-life balance” as a key reason they enjoy working at BlackSky. - **Workplace Policy**: The company is headquartered in Herndon, VA, with its satellite manufacturing facility in Tukwila, WA. Many roles (especially engineering) appear to be hybrid or on-site given the nature of the hardware and operations work. The careers page lists roles like Staff Engineer, Constellation Systems; Manager, People & Culture; and UX Designer, suggesting a mix of technical and corporate functions. *Source*: [BlackSky Careers Page](https://blacksky.com/company/careers/). ## Sources 1. [BlackSky Official Website](https://blacksky.com/) 2. [BlackSky Company Page](https://blacksky.com/company/) 3. [BlackSky Technology Page](https://blacksky.com/technology/) 4. [BlackSky Investor Relations](https://ir.blacksky.com/overview/default.aspx) 5. [BlackSky Careers Page](https://blacksky.com/company/careers/) ## Other roles at BlackSky - [Senior Accounting Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-accounting-manager-blacksky-herndon-n1kkshr7cqsa) — Herndon, VA - [Staff Avionics Engineer (C&DH)](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-avionics-engineer-c-dh-blacksky-tukwila-zkfqcm10950b) — Tukwila, WA - [Principal Systems Engineer - Space Vehicle](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-systems-engineer-space-vehicle-blacksky-tukwila-c8s6b56pjvrf) — Tukwila, WA - [Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-marketing-corporate-communications-blacksky-herndon-va-or-seattle-dg0st4d6qs52) — Herndon VA OR Seattle, WA - [Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-blacksky-tukwila-9tp1x20gewan) — Tukwila, WA - [Senior Engineer - Embedded/Flight Software](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineer-embedded-flight-software-blacksky-seattle-8y254hxzffj9) — Seattle, WA - [Senior Software Engineer, Infrastructure](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-infrastructure-blacksky-tukwila-4p6dw5aqajd9) — Tukwila, WA - [Senior Software Engineer, Design in Test (SDET)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet-blacksky-tukwila-3zgqa93v0p97) — Tukwila, WA - [Staff HDL Hardware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-hdl-hardware-engineer-blacksky-tukwila-0fbka01kvsgp) — Tukwila, WA - [Staff Engineer, Flight Software/Embedded Software](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineer-flight-software-embedded-software-blacksky-seattle-ccs1x8y8h4aa) — Seattle, WA