Space Vehicle and Electronic Component Structural Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation•El Segundo, CA

4d•$117,300 - $226,900

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation’s Component Analysis and Space Structures (CASS) section is seeking a Space Vehicle and Electronic Component Structural Engineer at the Engineering Specialist or Senior Engineering Specialist level. The role supports the structural integrity of space vehicle hardware, including composite and metallic bus panels and joints, solar arrays, antennas, electronic assemblies, and electronic components. The position requires a strong foundation in solid mechanics and practical structural-analysis experience using hand calculations and finite element analysis. The CASS team provides technical assessments to inform customer decisions across the aerospace industry. The engineer will provide technical leadership in mission assurance for U.S. Space Force, U.S. Air Force, and NRO missions. Work includes independent analyses and assessments, hardware reviews, evaluation of stress-analysis reports and flight data, and investigation of flight and test anomalies. The role also involves identifying and resolving structural design and test issues, leading technical teams, communicating technical concerns and recommendations to customers and management, mentoring early-career staff, and maintaining authoritative expertise in electronic packaging and space structures. The Engineering Specialist level requires at least 8 years of increasingly responsible structural engineering experience; the Senior Engineering Specialist level requires at least 12 years. The position requires an active TS/SCI security clearance, and U.S. citizenship is required to obtain one. Occasional domestic or international travel to work locations or customer sites is expected, approximately 10%. The annual grade-based pay range is $117,300 to $226,900. The role offers standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options; a specific workplace type is not stated.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field.
At least 8 years of increasingly responsible professional or industry experience in structural engineering for the Engineering Specialist level.
At least 12 years of increasingly responsible professional or industry experience in structural engineering for the Senior Engineering Specialist level.
Experience performing finite element analyses.
Experience in structural mechanics, including elasticity, plasticity, nonlinear materials, plates and shells, energy methods, finite element methods, fracture, and fatigue.
Experience with the design, qualification, and testing of aerospace structural components and systems.
Ability to initiate development of advanced analytical techniques, concepts, and/or design criteria for subsystems.
Ability to support multiple programs or activities simultaneously.
Willingness to travel occasionally, approximately 10%, to domestic or international work locations or customer sites.
Active TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
For the Senior Engineering Specialist level, experience serving as an organization’s designated representative at technical meetings, presentations, and symposia.
For the Senior Engineering Specialist level, experience acting as a focal point for technical standards and risk assessment approaches and interacting frequently with contractors through review boards, technical interchange meetings, and planning meetings.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field.
Proficiency in design, qualification, testing, and nonconformance assessment of spacecraft structural systems, such as electronic assemblies, electronic components, antennas, composite panels, sandwich panels, and solar arrays.
Technical proficiency in areas such as microelectronics durability, thermostructural analysis methodologies, fracture mechanics and fatigue analysis under thermal and vibration loads, nondestructive inspection criteria, probabilistic analysis and uncertainty quantification, and nonlinear finite element analysis.
Ability to represent structural physics during analysis idealization and translate results into a conclusive assessment.
Ability to coordinate technical assignments and lead project teams.
Experience mentoring less experienced staff in multiple areas of structural engineering, including orientation, technical guidance, and development insight.
Ability to work independently with internal and external customers, providing technical support and serving as a technical authority, consultant, and/or primary investigator.
Proficiency with NASTRAN, Abaqus, ANSYS, LS-DYNA, or other commercial finite element tools, and direct experience correlating finite element model predictions with test results.
Understanding of flight qualification strategies from a structural perspective.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership in mission assurance processes for U.S. Space Force, U.S. Air Force, and NRO missions to assure structural integrity.
Perform or oversee independent analyses and assessments, hardware reviews, review and evaluation of stress-analysis reports, evaluation of flight data, and investigation of flight and test anomalies.
Identify, evaluate, and resolve structural design and test issues for electronic components and spacecraft structures; coordinate detailed structural analyses to identify failure mechanisms and modes.
Lead technical teams to identify issues, prioritize tasks, and communicate with management and customers.
Proactively inform management and customers of perceived technical problems and recommend courses of action.
Coordinate with inter-organizational personnel, program offices, and customers to resolve technical issues.
Mentor early-career staff by providing technical guidance and insight; conduct peer reviews of technical products and findings.
Maintain authoritative expertise in development, analysis, and verification of electronic packaging and space structures, including knowledge of structural design criteria and structural test methods.
Support multiple programs or activities simultaneously.
For the Senior Engineering Specialist level, represent the organization at technical meetings, presentations, and symposia; act as a focal point for technical standards and risk assessment approaches; and engage with contractors through review boards, technical interchange meetings, and planning meetings.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
401(k) plan with a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
Flexible spending accounts.
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
Relocation assistance.
Professional growth and development programs.
Education assistance programs.
Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.