{"id":4080525,"url":"https://alion.io/job/neworbit-spacecraft-mechanical-engineer","title":"Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer","company":{"id":679537,"name":"NewOrbit","domain":"neworbit.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/neworbit","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":83,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.667,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":55,"computed_at":"2026-11-11T05:49:22Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Reading, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":true,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Abaqus","optional":false},{"name":"ANSYS","optional":false},{"name":"ECSS","optional":false},{"name":"Nastran","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-05-14T17:16:43Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-05-14","last_verified_at":"2026-11-11T17:04:03Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":181,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":181},"description":"Company\nNewOrbit builds satellites that fly in very low Earth orbit, below 300 km, along with the electric propulsion that keeps them there.\nFlying closer to Earth means sharper imagery from smaller optics, and an orbit that cleans itself: our satellites de-orbit within a month at end of life, leaving no debris.\nOur AURA family of RF gridded ion thrusters powers our own NEO-1 satellite, with first flight planned for Q3 2028, and is also offered to other operators.\nElectric propulsion is what lets our satellites hold very low orbits, and our AURA RF gridded ion thruster is at the centre of it.\nYour Role\nWe are seeking a Structural Engineer to support the design, analysis, testing, and qualification of structures for our VLEO satellite missions. You will work across the full development lifecycle of flight hardware, from early structural modelling and design reviews through environmental testing and validation, helping ensure the reliability and survivability of spacecraft operating in one of the harshest orbital environments.\nYou will work closely with mechanical, thermal, propulsion, systems, and AIT teams to develop structurally robust hardware capable of surviving launch and sustained operations in Ultra-Low Earth Orbit.\nKey Responsibilities\nPerform structural analysis of flight hardware including spacecraft structures, propulsion subsystems, and mechanical assemblies. This includes static, modal, random vibration, sine, shock, and quasi-static load cases.\n\nDevelop and validate finite element models (FEM) for spacecraft and high-performance aerospace structures.\n\nPerform hand calculations for preliminary analysis in support of FEA.\n\nSupport structural sizing, stiffness optimisation, and load path analysis for launch and in-orbit environments.\n\nPlan and execute vibration, shock, and structural qualification testing test campaigns end-to-end: write the test plan, instrument the hardware, interpret the data, correlate the model, and close out the qualification report.\n\nInstrument hardware using accelerometers and strain gauges, and correlate test results back to analytical models.\n\nReview engineering drawings and collaborate directly with designers to drive structural design decisions.\n\nSupport qualification activities against relevant aerospace and space standards including GEVS, ECSS, and NASA requirements.\n\nContribute to structural verification activities across development, integration, and test phases.\n\nFundamental Requirements\nEducation: B.S. or M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field.\n\n3+ years of structural analysis experience on flight hardware, including spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, or high-performance structures.\n\nExperience with structural analysis of a satellite's primary or secondary structure (i.e., the load-bearing bus/frame, not just a subsystem or payload) is strongly preferred.\n\nExperience with structural analysis of spacecraft structures and subsystems, including electronic boxes, propulsion systems, hydraulics, or solar panels.\n\nExperience with design for manufacturing (DFM).\n\nHands-on experience with FEM and ability to justify modelling assumptions and approaches.\n\nExperience with Altair OptiStruct is a strong plus; proficiency with industry-standard solvers such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, or Abaqus is required.\n\nFamiliarity with launch environments including random vibration PSDs, SRS shock spectra, and quasi-static load factors.\n\nPractical experience supporting environmental testing, including instrumentation with accelerometers and strain gauges and model correlation activities.\n\nConfidence reading and reviewing engineering drawings and working directly with design engineers on structural decisions.\n\nNice-to-haves\nExperience with analysis of composite materials.\n\nExperience with material testing, metallic and composites\n\nWhy NewOrbit Space?\nPioneering space technology - Your work on our RF gridded ion thrusters and VLEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and challenge traditional LEO.\n\nOwnership and impact - You'll have a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry, and you'll take part in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.\n\nEquity and competitive salary - Alongside a competitive salary you receive a company ownership stake, so you share in the technology you help build and in our collective success.\n\nComprehensive benefits - Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, and annual health check-ups.\n\nHybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week.\n\nVisa sponsorship and relocation support - We sponsor visas and provide relocation support for candidates moving to join us.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4696,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Health insurance","Hybrid work"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Earth 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