Structural Design Engineer

Structural Design Engineer (Space/Rockets/Flight Vehicles)Are you a Structural Design Engineer who wants full ownership of a flight vehicle - not just a component?Do you enjoy taking designs from concept → analysis → build → flight hardware?Want to work on real spacecraft launching within the next 12 months, not long-term theory projects?Join a well-funded, mission-driven space technology company is developing next-generation flight vehicles — with real hardware in build and a successful first launch already under way!As a Senior Structural Design Engineer you’ll act as the technical authority for structures, owning the vehicle from early architecture through to flight qualification.You’ll be working in a fast-moving, highly collaborative startup environment (scaling rapidly) with strong backing and a clear mission roadmap - Series B funding projected into the billions and headcount is expected to grow by 500% in the next year!What You’ll Be Doing as a Senior Structural Design Engineer :Leading the full structural architecture of the vehicle, covering primary structure, secondary structures, and key interfaces (heatshield, payload bay, mechanisms)Owning end-to-end design lifecycle from early trade studies and hand calcs through detailed design, analysis, build, and testPerforming and signing off high-fidelity FEA (ANSYS / FEMAP / NASTRAN) alongside hand calculations (stiffness, buckling, thermal loads)Producing manufacturing-ready drawings with GD&T (ASME Y14.5) to ensure first-pass successTaking a hands-on role in build and integration, working closely with technicians and cross-functional teamsLeading structural test campaigns (static, vibration, shock, deployment) to qualify flight hardwareWorking directly with machine shops, composite suppliers, and vendors to solve real-world fabrication challengesThe ideal Senior Structural Design Engineer will bring :7+ years experience in aerospace structural or mechanical designExperience owning full vehicle or primary structure design (not just components)Background across spacecraft, launch vehicles, or high-performance aerospace systemsStrong expertise in materials (aluminum, titanium, Inconel, composites) and behaviour in extreme environmentsDeep understanding of manufacturing (CNC, sheet metal, welding, composites) with a DFM mindsetComfortable moving between analysis, CAD, hands-on build, and test environmentsCompensation: Starting from $220k base, plus bonus and strong equity package.Why join as a Senior Structural Design Engineer?Own an entire spacecraft structure, not just a small pieceWork on hardware that is actively being built and flownJoin a high-growth, well-funded startup at a critical stage (pre-flight)High ownership, high visibility, and real engineering impactApply today and successful applicants will be contacted within 24 hours!