Structural Analyst - Spacecraft Engineering

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Staff Structural Analyst - Spacecraft Engineering. Location: San Francisco, CA, USA or Louisville, CO, USA

Responsibilities:

• Perform detailed structural analyses for spacecraft, payloads, and ground support hardware.
• Develop, correlate, and maintain high-fidelity finite element models for static, dynamic, thermal, and nonlinear analyses.
• Generate component-level dynamic environments, including vibration, shock, acoustic loads, and thermal limits from launch and thermal environments.
• Generate structural margins of safety according to customer and industry standards;
• Provide analytical recommendations for engineering trade studies and critical project decisions.
• Partner with and mentor design engineers to improve structures for strength, stiffness, weight, manufacturability, and cost.
• Evaluate structural performance under launch, transportation, and operational environments.
• Perform linear and nonlinear static, modal, frequency response, random vibration, shock, buckling, fatigue, fracture mechanics, thermal stress, contact, and large-deformation analyses.
• Develop, validate, and update Craig-Bampton reduced-order models for integrated vehicle dynamic analyses and customer interface requirements.
• Deliver Craig-Bampton models to SpaceX and other launch service providers according to provided specifications.
• Prepare structural analysis reports, certification documentation, and technical presentations for internal and external customers.
• Support hardware qualification and acceptance testing through pre-test predictions and post-test correlation.
• Assist with vibration test fixture design and test setup, including accelerometer placement;
• Apply knowledge of notching and other force-limiting techniques.
• Review test response results and evaluate the impact on components when test levels are exceeded.
• Participate in PDR, CDR, TRR, and FRR design reviews.
• Support anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and test teams to resolve structural issues during production and integration.
• Develop standardized structural analysis approaches, tools, and documentation to support Capella's growth.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of structural analysis experience supporting aerospace or spaceflight hardware.
• Strong understanding of mechanics of materials, structural dynamics, and aerospace structural design.
• Knowledge of launch vehicle environments, coupled loads analysis, vibration, shock, and acoustic loading.
• Experience analyzing metallic and composite structures using classical hand calculations, FEA, and other computer-aided methods.
• Familiarity with aerospace materials, fastener design, joints, and bonded assemblies.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing processes;
• Experience generating and correlating Craig-Bampton reduced-order models.
• Experience with NASTRAN and developing and running finite element models.
• Proficiency with pre/post-processing software such as HyperMesh, Patran, FEMAP, or equivalent.
• Ability to make technically sound decisions under schedule constraints.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously;
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to engineering excellence and flight safety.
• Ability to communicate complex structural concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting spacecraft, satellites, and launch vehicles.
• Experience delivering structural dynamic models to launch providers such as SpaceX.
• Experience correlating analytical models with qualification and flight-test data.
• Experience with additively manufactured structures;
• Knowledge of NASA, DoD, ESA, or commercial space structural verification requirements.
• Experience with SolidWorks 2024 for CAD.
• Experience with ANSYS, Adams, NASGRO, ABAQUS, or similar analysis tools.
• Experience with optimization, scripting, or automation using Python, MATLAB, or similar languages.
• Familiarity with PLM and configuration management systems such as ARAS.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Base salary range: $192,979 to $276,722 USD.
• Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, equity, and benefits.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans;
• Matching 401(k).
• Unlimited paid time off.
• Paid holidays.
• Parental and adoption leave.
• Legal insurance.
• Home technology stipend.

Compensation may vary based on education, qualifications, experience, office location, market data, and internal equity.

Other Information:

• Travel: Up to 10%, domestic or international.
• The position is based onsite in either San Francisco, CA or Louisville, CO.
• The role involves access to technology subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions;
• Employment may require U.S. Person status, the required government authorization, or an applicable license exception.
• Applicants may be asked additional immigration-status questions for export-control compliance.