Structures Design Engineer

About PLD Space

PLD Space is an international company on a mission to transport satellites into space, vertically integrating the engineering, testing, manufacturing, and operations of its reusable and sustainable rockets. Headquartered in Elche (Spain) and founded in 2011 by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú, PLD Space has established itself as a global benchmark in the small satellite launch sector. Its family of MIURA launchers and LINCE crewed capsule position the company as a leader in European technological sovereignty for space transportation, covering the full spectrum of space missions.

PLD Space operates over 188,000 m² of facilities in Elche, Teruel (Spain), Kourou (French Guiana), and Duqm (Oman), enabling the company to provide comprehensive satellite and payload launch services into space.

Teamwork, courage, determination and ambition enable PLD Space to guarantee an autonomous, independent satellite space access capability, based on reliability at a globally competitive price. The company is able to offer best-in-class launch services to commercial satellite operators, institutions, space agencies and national and international governmental entities

Mission

As Structures Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the Design of the launch vehicles structures.

Responsibilities

• Design of launch vehicle structural elements and configurations jointly with other engineering disciplines.
• Design of primary metallic structures (different size range of machined components, sheet metal parts, welded structures, metallic pressure vessels and tanks, etc.).
• Design of primary composite structures (sandwich, monolithic, filament winding elements, hand lay-up, RTM parts, etc.).
• Design of secondary structures as brackets or supports for rigid pipes, valves, avionics equipment, antennas, mechanism, electrical harness, etc.
• Generation of Engineering documentation such as 3D models, Drawings, BOMs, MCI and weight reports, technical reports and Eng. Change Notes for the complete definition of Detailed Parts, Assemblies and Installation.
• Liaise with others Engineering departments (Stress Analysis, M&P, Testing, Propulsion, Avionics, etc.) and provide information to Manufacturing area under request.
• Responsible to accomplish with Product Specifications, Sub-System requirements and Interface definition during the development of the product design along the entire lifecycle and across all phases, from Prototype, Testing and Series production.
• Participate in the periodic design reviews dealing with SCH/Manufacturing for the achievement of requirements, specifications, feasibility, lead time and costs.
• Continuous research to optimize design solutions.
• Identify and recommend opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Complete the assigned tasks “on time, on quality, on cost"

Necessary Requirements

• Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 5 years of technical experience in Aerospace Industry as Structural Design Engineer or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• More than 5 years of experience in parametric modelling software.
• Experience in Drawing dimensioning, Tolerance Stack Analysis and Methods (ASME Y14.5, ISO 1101).
• Competence in the design of Aerospace primary structure (metallic and composites parts) and secondary structure.
• Knowledge in selection and application of design criteria and rules, Aerospace standards, materials, strengths, and other mechanical properties, according to the loading conditions, working environment, etc.
• Familiar with reading and applying Aerospace normative, papers and documentation.
• High Proficiency with CAD (Siemens NX) and PDM tools (Teamcenter).

Desired Requirements

• Experience in Rockets Structural Design is a plus.
• Experience concerning the typical design requirements of structures exposed to extreme conditions, (cryogenic, high temperatures, vibration environment, etc).
• Experience in insulation materials, procedures and methods.
• Familiar with the main manufacturing technologies and capabilities (machining, sheet metal forming, welding, composite hand lay-up, RTM, filament winding, etc.), and most typical assembly’s methods and processes (drilling operations, reaming, mechanical joints by means of standard parts, metallic welding, bonding, sealing, finish painting, marking).
• Knowledge of the most common corrosion prevention rules and surface protection.
• Proven in the development of products from the original concept design according to Aerospace normative and rules, through to the delivery of detailed technical design packaging into final production.
• Familiar with Aerospace standard parts and typical light materials, metallic alloys and non-metallic.
• Design focused to assembly line concerns, tooling, and jigs.
• Availability to travel occasionally.
• Self-motivated and able to work under pressure to meet deadlines, dealing with situations that are constrained by time and managing different tasks at once.
• Able to work autonomously with little supervision.
• Fluency in written and oral communication, both Spanish and English.

Benefits

Health & Wellness

• Physiotherapy within our facilities
• 50% discount on your health insurance
• You can sign-up your family members with health insurance at a competitive price.
• Healthy snacks and lots of fruit

Find balance

• 23 days of paid vacation plus December 24th and 31st
• Flexible work schedule

Never stop learning

• We encourage practical learning
• We promote professional development through internal mobility and teamwork

Focus on your financial future

• Childcare flexible contributions
• Restaurant tickets
• Transport flexible contributions
• Training support

Values

We have five critical beliefs that guide the way PLD Space is shaping the future of space launch technologies.

• Teamwork
• Hard work
• Dynamism
• Commitment
• Keep it simple

Join us to reinvent how rockets are built!