Structural Analysis Section Manager

Axiom Space • Houston, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Axiom Space is a human space exploration company focused on building space infrastructure and delivering technology-driven solutions. The company is pioneering a next-generation orbital settlement, Axiom Station, and is a leading provider of commercial human spaceflight services and developer of advanced spacesuits. Axiom Space fosters an inclusive work environment and is seeking a bold and dynamic Structural Analysis Section Manager who is driven by high accountability and execution. This role provides functional leadership for the Structural Analysis organization, encompassing Stress Analysis, Loads & Dynamics, and Structural Verification/Test. The position is responsible for developing people, processes, tools, standards, and technical capabilities to support current and future programs. Key accountabilities include workforce development, resource planning, technical governance, and the consistent delivery of high-quality analysis products that meet customer, quality, and configuration-management requirements.

Requirements

• BS in Mechanical, Aerospace, Structural, or related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years total engineering experience.
• Significant experience in structural analysis, loads and dynamics, structural testing and verification, and mechanical analysis.
• 3+ years experience leading engineering teams, technical organizations, or functional groups, including personnel development, resource planning, and multi-disciplinary coordination.
• Experience with industry-standard structural analysis tools and workflows, including finite element modeling, dynamics analysis, test correlation, and automation using software such as Nastran, FEMAP, Simcenter 3D, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent tools.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staffing plans, labor forecasts, budgets, schedules, priorities, and multi-program resource demands.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical issues and recommendations effectively to engineering leadership, program management, customers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience developing or enforcing engineering workflows, quality procedures, technical standards, review gates, and deliverable expectations.
• Strong communication, organization, mentoring, customer interface, and leadership skills.
• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.

Nice To Haves

• MS degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering.
• PMP certification.
• Experience supporting human spaceflight programs and familiarity with NASA standards and requirements.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary structural analysis organizations.
• Experience with configuration management and engineering quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead personnel assignments and priorities across multiple programs and technical disciplines within Stress Analysis, Loads & Dynamics, and Structural Verification/Test.
• Develop and execute section staffing strategies, including workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, retention, succession planning, cross-training, and employee development.
• Maintain labor forecasts, staffing plans, budget inputs, BOEs, ROMs, and resource estimates for section work to ensure programs have adequate structural analysis support to meet cost, schedule, technical quality, and customer commitments.
• Partner with program managers, chief engineers, and functional leaders to balance priorities, resolve resource conflicts, and manage technical and schedule risks.
• Serve as the escalation point for technical issues, staffing conflicts, quality concerns, and cross-disciplinary coordination challenges.
• Track and communicate section performance against budget, schedule, quality, deliverable completion, review closure, and customer commitments.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce section workflows, review gates, standards, templates, analysis checklists, reporting expectations, and configuration-control practices to ensure technical rigor and consistency.
• Establish and monitor metrics related to quality, productivity, staffing utilization, review effectiveness, and process maturity, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct quality audits, support customer reviews, design reviews, readiness reviews, and define corrective-action activities related to structural analysis products and processes.
• Develop and maintain section technical capabilities, methods, software tools, automation solutions, and knowledge management practices (e.g., lessons learned) to ensure long-term competitiveness and program success.
• Conduct employee one-on-ones, performance evaluations, career development discussions, recognition, counseling, and promotion planning, while mentoring Stress, Loads & Dynamics, and Test leads.
• Review and approve employee timecards, overtime, travel, training, and resource requests.
• Communicate section performance, staffing risks, technical concerns, and improvement plans to upper management.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Axiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager