Senior Spacecraft Analysis Engineer

Aetherflux•Seattle, WA

About The Position

Aetherflux is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit to collect sunlight and enable a new class of capabilities—from transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), to powering on-orbit compute, to delivering secure, high-bandwidth optical data. By rethinking how energy and data are generated and distributed in space, we’re unlocking entirely new ways to operate both in orbit and on Earth. Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt (co-founder of Robinhood), Aetherflux is backed by leading investors and built by a team from top aerospace and defense organizations. We’re moving quickly to solve complex technical challenges and build a new category of space infrastructure. We are looking for a Spacecraft Systems Analysis Engineer to drive high-impact modeling, simulation, and performance analysis across our satellite platform. This is a multidisciplinary role where you will inform key design decisions across spacecraft subsystems through rigorous analysis and system-level thinking. You will bring deep expertise in one or more domains—such as structural, loads, and dynamics, thermal, radiation, reliability, power, MMOD (micrometeoroid and orbital debris), fluids, or optical/brightness analysis—while operating with a strong understanding of how these systems interact at the spacecraft level. This is a high-growth role with the opportunity to take ownership of critical analyses and directly influence at the spacecraft level.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in engineering analysis (internships and relevant projects count)
Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
Experience or academic exposure to at least one analysis domain: Structural Loads and Dynamics Thermal Fluids Radiation Reliability Power MMOD Demise Optical / brightness
Familiarity with engineering simulation tools (e.g., FEA, thermal modeling, MATLAB/Python-based analysis)
Strong fundamentals in physics-based modeling, numerical methods, and engineering principles
Ability to interpret data and translate analysis results into actionable engineering insights
Eagerness to learn and operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience applying analysis to real-world hardware or aerospace systems (internship, academic project, or industry)
Experience with industry-standard tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN, Thermal Desktop, COMSOL, MATLAB/Simulink, Python)
Experience performing multidisciplinary trade studies and system-level optimization
Familiarity with space environment effects, including radiation, thermal cycling, and orbital debris (MMOD)
Experience with test correlation, validating models against hardware or experimental data
Exposure to power systems, thermal management, or structural dynamics in aerospace applications
Experience working on high-reliability or safety-critical systems with strong validation practices
Experience designing or maintaining analysis workflows integrated with CI/CD or automated pipelines
Demonstrated ownership of complex analytical problems, from assumptions through model validation
Prior experience at a space, aerospace, or deep tech organization
Strong interest in space systems, energy infrastructure, and mission-driven engineering challenges

Responsibilities

Perform system-level modeling and simulation to evaluate spacecraft performance across multiple subsystems
Develop and own analysis in one or more domains: structural, thermal, radiation, reliability, power, MMOD, fluids, or optical/brightness
Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to inform design decisions and optimize system performance, mass, and reliability
Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, GNC, and software teams to guide design and integration decisions
Define and maintain analysis-driven requirements, margins, and verification strategies
Interpret simulation results and translate findings into actionable engineering insights
Support test planning and model correlation, ensuring alignment between analysis and hardware performance
Develop and maintain technical documentation, including models, assumptions, and analysis reports
Support environmental qualification and on-orbit performance predictions, including thermal, radiation, and debris environments
Participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR), providing analytical rigor and recommendations at the system level