Mechanical Engineer — Structural Dynamics Analyst

As a Mechanical Engineer - Structural Dynamics Analyst, you will be responsible for ensuring the structural integrity and survivability of spacecraft internal components and sensitive sub-systems. You will lead structural and dynamic analyses across the full launch and flight environment, working closely with design, systems, and test teams to bring rigorous analytical discipline to every phase of development. This is a highly cross-functional role that sits at the intersection of analysis, design, and hardware verification.

This role is based in our Saratoga, CA office.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct structural and modal analyses to ensure the integrity and survivability of spacecraft internal components and sensitive sub-systems across all mission phases.
• Perform finite element analysis (FEA) using tools such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, or Femap to evaluate satellite structures for launch environments, including random vibration, sine sweep, shock, and acoustic loading.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical design teams to optimize mass and stiffness trade-offs, providing timely analysis feedback to inform design decisions and margin management.
• Develop, maintain, and validate finite element models throughout the design lifecycle, ensuring models are representative of the evolving hardware configuration.
• Correlate analytical models with structural test campaigns or other verification activities that validate structural predictions for the full flight assembly.
• Define and support structural test plans, including qualification and acceptance testing for launch loads, and provide analysis support during test execution and data review.
• Generate and maintain structural analysis reports, load budgets, and margin summaries in accordance with project requirements and applicable standards (e.g., ECSS, NASA-STD).
• Participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and present analysis results, assumptions, and conclusions to internal and customer stakeholders.
• Identify structural risks early and propose mitigation strategies in coordination with systems engineering and project management.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in structural dynamics analysis, preferably in a space, defense, or high-reliability hardware environment.
• Proficiency in at least one major FEA tool: NASTRAN (MSC or NX), ANSYS, or Femap.
• Working knowledge of launch load environments: random vibration, sine, shock, and acoustic.
• Experience developing and running modal analyses and interpreting results in the context of structural qualification requirements.
• Familiarity with model correlation techniques and test-analysis correlation (TAC) methods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical results clearly.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on involvement in structural test campaigns - sine sweep, random vibration, acoustic, or modal survey testing.
• Familiarity with composite structures analysis and associated failure criteria.
• Experience working within a concurrent engineering or agile hardware development environment.
• Knowledge of thermal-structural interface analysis or multi-physics simulation.

Additional Requirements

This is a fast-paced, high-impact environment - flexibility to occasionally work extended hours or weekends during critical periods is expected.