Space Vehicle and Electronic Component Structural Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation•El Segundo, CA

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation’s Component Analysis and Space Structures (CASS) section is seeking a structural engineer to help assess the integrity of space vehicle hardware and inform customer decisions. The team works with hardware across the aerospace industry, including composite and metallic bus panels and joints, solar arrays, antennas, electronic assemblies, and electronic components. The role requires a strong foundation in solid mechanics and practical experience performing structural analysis through hand calculations and finite element analysis. 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 resolving structural design and test issues, coordinating analyses to identify failure mechanisms and modes, leading technical teams, communicating technical concerns and recommendations, and coordinating with internal organizations, program offices, and customers. The engineer will mentor early-career staff, review technical products, and maintain expertise in electronic packaging and space structures, structural design criteria, and structural test methods. The position may be filled at the Engineering Specialist or Senior Engineering Specialist level. The Senior Engineering Specialist level requires additional experience and experience representing an organization at technical meetings and serving as a focal point for technical standards and risk assessment approaches. The listed annual pay range is $117,300 to $226,900. Individual compensation depends on factors including education, experience, knowledge, and skills. The position requires an active TS/SCI security clearance, and U.S. citizenship is required to obtain one. Occasional travel to work locations or customer sites, approximately 10%, may be domestic or international.

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 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 to work locations or customer sites, approximately 10%, domestically or internationally.
Active TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
For the Senior Engineering Specialist level, experience representing an organization at technical meetings, presentations, and symposia.
For the Senior Engineering Specialist level, experience serving as a focal point for technical standards and risk assessment approaches, including frequent interaction 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 the 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 several of the following: 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 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 independent analyses and assessments, hardware reviews, evaluation of stress analysis reports and flight data, and investigations 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.
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 electronic packaging and space structures, structural design criteria, and structural test methods.
For the Senior Engineering Specialist level, represent the organization at technical meetings, presentations, and symposia; serve as a focal point for technical standards and risk assessment approaches; and interact 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 company-paid benefits 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.