You will be part of a team of driven and enthusiastic engineers working to prototype, design, develop, and test our innovative hybrid rocket engine-powered small launch vehicle. In this position you will be overseeing and integrating the structural design work by our subcontractors and partners as well as serving as a critical part of the overall launch vehicle design team.

 

You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced and often uncertain environment, contributing to innovative solutions, while demonstrating personal leadership, technical competence, and attention to detail. A willingness to branch outside your comfort zone is essential. We’re a small, fast-paced company and everyone pitches in when needed. This is an opportunity to get in near the ground floor of an expanding space launch start up and have a direct impact on the development and production of a completely new space launch vehicle.

 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: (Duties and responsibilities which occupy a major portion of time and importance in the job. Incumbent(s) perform one or more of the following duties.)

• Work in small teams (in-house and contractor) and individually in the design of structural components for the launch vehicle.


• Design and develop structural specifications and designs in consideration of required vibrational and thermal environments.


• Conduct detailed analysis of vehicle load path and refine structural component designs.


• Develop, manage, and report vehicle masses, mass growth allowance (MGA), center of gravity location, and mass moments of inertia.


• Analyze COTS and vendor-proposed structural components to ensure proper integration into the overall vehicle design.


• Manage cost, schedule, and performance internally and externally for assigned systems and subsystems.


• Identify and communicate technical, cost and schedule risks.


• Support configuration design studies and test article development.


• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Education and Experience  

MS in Mechanical Engineering or relevant engineering discipline plus 2 years relevant experience. Or 

BS in Mechanical Engineering or relevant engineering discipline plus 4 years relevant experience.

Required Skills and Education:

• Experience in multiple elements of the launch vehicle design cycle including trade studies, design and analysis, production, assembly, test support and data review.


• Ability to critically analyze engineering designs for potential hazards, constraints, or failure modes.


• Demonstrated familiarity with structural dynamics loads, stress analysis, and bolted joint analysis. 


• Demonstrated ability with engineering drawings and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing.


• Ability to read and interpret engineering standards and technical requirements and apply configuration management procedures.


• Experience with SolidWorks CAD or similar software.


• Ability to communicate technical information effectively.


• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.


• Skilled in Microsoft Office applications and data base systems.


• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (current Green Card holder) or be granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Preferred Skills and Education:       

• Experience with launch vehicle structural design and analysis.


• Experience with launch vehicle interfaces, adapter and release systems.


• Experience with Finite Element Analysis software.


• Experience in leading technical interchange/communications with vendors and partners, both in the design and manufacturing environments.


• Experience with hardware manufacturing and spacecraft Assembly Integration & Test.


• Working knowledge of hybrid rocket engine concepts and practice.


• Experience with MATLAB or similar software.

Benefits: 

• Work on an incredible mission


• Grow with a company that is quickly approaching an inflection point


• Equity component of payment


• Health benefits: Gold Plan HMO, Dental, and Vision - 100% covered by employer for the employee.