Senior/Principal Structural Analyst

Zeno Power•Seattle, WA

11d•$145,000 - $185,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Zeno Power is seeking a highly motivated Senior/Principal Structural Analyst to support the development and commercialization of Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS). Reporting to the Analysis Manager, this role performs structural analysis throughout program phases, from early concepts and prototypes to qualification and flight hardware. The analyst evaluates designs against structural limits, regulatory requirements, applicable codes, and NASA standards; documents analysis results; and develops and correlates tests to validate analytical predictions. The role also provides technical oversight and mentorship, reviews vendor and partner analyses, advises mechanical design teams, and collaborates with systems, materials, and test engineers to deliver robust, manufacturable, and testable hardware.

Requirements

B.S. or higher in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university.
At least 7 years of structural analysis experience, including steady-state, random-vibration, and thermal environments for aerospace or nuclear systems.
Demonstrated proficiency in finite-element analysis tools; ANSYS Mechanical is preferred.
Strong background in dynamic structural analysis, including random vibration, sine sweep, shock, and transient response.
Familiarity with fracture mechanics, fatigue-life estimation, and damage-tolerance principles.
Experience generating stress reports and component-margin justifications consistent with NASA or aerospace prime-contractor standards.
Working knowledge of 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks and GD&T (ASME Y14.5) for model-based definition and analysis.
Experience working under structured quality systems such as NQA-1, AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar.
Excellent technical writing skills and ability to present results clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to lead analysis efforts with minimal supervision and work effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
Must be a U.S. person as defined in the job posting.

Nice To Haves

M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
Experience with Abaqus, Nastran, or LS-DYNA.
Experience with impact, re-entry, or launch-environment analyses.
Working knowledge of NASA-STD-5001B, NASA-STD-5012, NASA-HDBK-7005, and NASA-STD-7009.

Responsibilities

Perform detailed mechanical and structural analyses of RPS structures, subsystems, and components from early concept and prototype through qualification and flight hardware.
Evaluate mechanical performance against structural limits, regulatory requirements, and applicable design and pressure-vessel codes, including ASME BPVC and AWS D1.1.
Apply NASA structural design and verification standards to ensure flight-class structural integrity, appropriate safety factors, and compliant analysis documentation.
Assess component margins under mechanical, thermal, and acoustic environments using static, modal, vibration, and explicit dynamic analyses.
Document findings in clear, traceable analysis reports that conform to Zeno Power technical writing standards.
Develop test requirements and plans to validate analyses, correlate test data with analytical models, and update predictions as needed.
Provide oversight and mentorship to internal analysts and review vendor and partner analysis deliverables for technical accuracy, compliance, and quality.
Guide mechanical design teams on component sizing, subsystem configuration, and material selection.
Collaborate with systems, materials, and test engineers to ensure hardware designs are robust, manufacturable, and testable.