University of Michigan · 7 hours ago
Engineer
Ann Arbor, MI
Full-time
Onsite
Entry, Mid Level
$81K/yr - $95K/yr
1+ years expThe University of Michigan is seeking a team-oriented professional for the Michigan Exploration Laboratory within the Aerospace Engineering Department. The role involves supporting educational and research activities related to small satellite missions, including designing, building, testing, and operating spacecraft and related systems.
E-LearningEducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Conceive, architect, and lead the development of advanced spaceflight systems, with primary responsibility for the technical integrity and end-to-end performance of the spacecraft
Design, integrate, and test advanced electro-optical and electromechanical subsystems, with particular emphasis on precision attitude determination and control, optical pointing, and spaceborne laser payloads
Oversee spacecraft avionics, sensors, actuators, flight software, power, structures, and thermal systems, ensuring robust interfaces and system-level coherence
Develop and maintain system requirements, interface control documents, and verification plans; perform design trades, analyses, and risk assessments; and lead hardware and software integration, test, and on-orbit readiness activities
Design, assemble, debug, and test flight and ground support hardware and software using modern CAD, circuit design, simulation, and test tools. Maintain and evolve mission testbeds, laboratories, and fabrication resources
Engage closely with faculty leadership, industry collaborators, and undergraduate and graduate student teams, providing technical mentorship while guiding the mission from concept through launch and on-orbit operations
Qualification
Required
Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field, with 1 (one) year of relevant experience in spacecraft, space systems, or precision aerospace systems; equivalent industry or flight-program experience considered
Demonstrated experience designing, integrating, and testing complex spaceflight or high-reliability aerospace systems, with system-level responsibility across multiple subsystems
Strong background in attitude determination and control systems (ADCS), including inertial sensors, star trackers, reaction wheels, magnetorquers, actuators, estimation and control algorithms, and precision pointing or formation-flying applications
Experience with optical or laser-based systems, such as laser communications, optical terminals, precision pointing mechanisms, optical sensors, or free-space optical testbeds
Experience with circuit board bring-up, debugging, and test; familiarity with mixed-signal electronics, power systems, and low-level hardware/software interfaces
Software experience across multiple environments (e.g., Python, C/C++, embedded systems, Linux), with proficiency in flight software, embedded control, simulation, or hardware-in-the-loop testing
Experience with laboratory instrumentation, including sensor calibration, optical alignment, signal conditioning, data acquisition, and system-level diagnostics
Experience developing and maintaining engineering documentation, including requirements, interface control documents, test plans, and verification reports
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative academic research environment, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students while coordinating with faculty and external partners
Company
University of Michigan
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving, and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Michigan has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (662)
2024 (594)
2023 (787)
2022 (473)
2021 (411)
2020 (324)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$359.75MKey Investors
Michigan Economic Development CorporationNational Institutes of HealthBreakthrough T1D
2025-07-17Grant· $1M
2025-06-07Grant· $1.17M
2025-04-23Grant
Leadership Team
Greg McGuire
Managing Director, Mcity
Robert Goodspeed
Chair, Urban and Regional Planning Program
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