Senior Structural Analysis Engineer

A New Paradigm For Space Operations.

What You’ll Do: 

We are seeking a Senior Structural Analysis Engineer with 5+ years of experience to perform structural analysis across spacecraft, payload, and deployment-system hardware. 

Job Responsibilities:  

• Conduct and document static, thermo-mechanical, dynamic, vibration, buckling, fatigue, and fracture analyses using finite element analysis and first-principles methods
• Develop structural models to predict stress, deformation, dynamic response, failure modes, and margins of safety
• Define load cases and operating environments for spacecraft and flight hardware
• Perform hand calculations and analytical modeling to validate results and guide design decisions
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, systems, and test engineers to develop lightweight, reliable, and manufacturable hardware
• Support structural test planning, instrumentation, execution, data processing, and correlation of models to test results
• Lead structural design trades, mass optimization, and resolution of hardware issues throughout development
• Document and present analysis findings during internal, customer, and program design reviews 

What It Takes: 

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied physics, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ of experience in structural analysis, stress analysis, structural dynamics, loads development, or a related field
• Strong foundation in statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fatigue, fracture mechanics, and material behavior
• Proficiency with finite element analysis tools such as FEMAP/NASTRAN, ANSYS, Abaqus, or equivalent tools
• Experience performing static, modal, buckling, vibration, or nonlinear structural analyses
• Ability to use hand calculations and first-principles methods to validate computational models
• Experience supporting structural testing and correlating analytical predictions with test data 

What We’d Love: 

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, or a related field
• Experience analyzing spacecraft, payloads, deployment systems, mechanisms, or other flight hardware
• Proficiency with FEMAP/NASTRAN, Siemens NX, MATLAB, or Python
• Experience with metallic, composite, bonded, welded, machined, or additively manufactured structures
• Experience supporting static, vibration, shock, fatigue, qualification, or acceptance testing
• Familiarity with aerospace structural-analysis standards and qualification methodologies 

Where You’ll Be: 

• The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo CA . Domestic travel may be required (up to ~20% of the year). 

What We Offer:  

• Equity-Based Compensation
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 3.5% company match
• Highly Competitive PTO
• Paid company holidays + winter break 
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure

ITAR Requirements:  
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here 

Equal Employment Opportunity: 
Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.