Senior Structural Analysis Engineer

Portal Space Systems•Bothell, WA

1d•$145,000 - $205,000•Onsite

About The Position

Portal Space Systems is seeking a Senior Structural Analysis Engineer responsible for substantiating spacecraft primary and secondary structures through finite element analysis and first-principles hand calculations. This role owns structural verification activities, including stress, deflection, stability, and margin of safety assessments that support design and qualification decisions. The position works closely with design, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure structural integrity is maintained throughout development. Portal Space Systems is on a mission to expand humanity’s freedom of movement in space, building spacecraft that make that mission possible. From their Bothell, WA headquarters, they design vehicles with the maneuverability, resilience, and adaptability needed for the next era of orbital operations. Every system built is in service of a simple idea: space should be more accessible, responsive, and capable. Joining Portal means stepping into a team that believes in bold engineering, fast iteration, and the power of small groups to change what’s possible. If you want your work to directly shape the future of in-space mobility, join us.

Requirements

2–5 years of experience in spacecraft structural analysis, primary structures, or structural substantiation roles
Experience performing stress, deflection, buckling, and margin of safety assessments using FEM and hand calculations
Proficiency developing and maintaining structural finite element models using FEMAP/Nastran or Siemens Simcenter 3D
Experience substantiating metallic and composite spacecraft structures, including load path validation
Experience owning or supporting structural verification efforts through analysis and test
Proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB for analysis automation, data reduction, and reporting
Experience using version control systems such as Git in an engineering analysis environment
BS or MS in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline

Nice To Haves

Strong ability to perform structural stress analysis and margin of safety calculations for primary and secondary spacecraft structures
Deep understanding of load paths, structural behavior, and failure modes in metallic and composite structures
Ability to build, interrogate, and validate finite element models using first-principles reasoning
Proficiency in developing and applying hand calculations to verify and bound FEM results
Ability to automate analysis post-processing and verification reporting using Python or MATLAB
Clear technical communication skills for documenting assumptions, methods, and structural substantiation rationale

Responsibilities

Own the structural finite element model (FEM) for primary and secondary spacecraft structures and maintain configuration control
Perform stress, deflection, stability, and margin of safety analyses using FEM and first-principles hand calculations
Substantiate metallic and composite structures, including strength, stiffness, and buckling assessments
Develop and document structural verification approaches, assumptions, and acceptance rationale
Support design trades and architecture decisions through analytical assessment of load paths and structural efficiency
Partner directly with design engineers to validate and optimize primary and secondary structural designs for strength, stiffness, weight, cost, and manufacturability
Develop Python-based tools to automate analysis workflows, post-processing, and margin reporting
Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and test teams to resolve structural issues and assess nonconformances
Support structural qualification and acceptance testing, including pre-test predictions and post-test correlation
Contribute to structural documentation, analysis reports, and verification artifacts