We are looking for a Senior Structures Analyst to own the structural analysis backbone of E-Space's Integrated Antenna Structure team. This person will develop and maintain the integrated finite element model of the deployed antenna assembly, perform structural performance and dynamics analysis, and establish requirements flow-down from system-level to component-level structural margins. This is a senior individual contributor role for someone with strong eigenvalue instincts, comfort with nonlinear and large-displacement problems, and opinions on what a deployable structure FEM is actually good for and where it breaks down.
On-site in Texas preferred, California as alternate. Close proximity to hardware and test activities is important for this role.
What you'll do:
- Own the integrated FEM of the deployed assembly, incorporating structural element stiffness and mass properties from contributing subsystem teams and deployment mechanism boundary conditions.
- Perform deployed-state structural performance analysis: modal survey prediction, static deflection under on-orbit loads (thermal, attitude control), and margin of safety verification.
- Develop and maintain the structural requirements allocation, flowing from system-level performance requirements down to component-level stiffness, mass, and CTE requirements for each contributing team.
- Lead model-test correlation at each level of the V&V test pyramid: update model parameters from test data, maintain a documented correlation record.
- Perform deployment analysis (e.g., deployable element kinematics, tensioning loads, deployment force margins, system dynamics) in support of the Deployable Structures Test Engineer's test predictions.
- Assess structural risk of design changes and interface deviations, and provide structural input to anomaly investigation teams.
- Develop and maintain the structural analysis error budget, tracking margin consumption as design changes occur.
Required Qualifications:
- BS or MS or Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.
- Proficiency in FEA structural analysis (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent) for modal, static, and linear dynamics problems.
- Experience performing structural analysis for flight or high-reliability hardware, including margin of safety calculations and requirements compliance.
- Experience with structural dynamics (modal analysis, frequency response, eigenvalue methods) not just static stress analysis.
- Ability to build and maintain a system-level integrated FEM incorporating inputs from multiple contributing teams at different fidelity levels.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ph.D. strongly preferred for the senior-level scope.
- Experience with large deployable structures (antennas, solar arrays, booms, or lightweight flexible systems) including specific modeling challenges: geometric nonlinearity, low-stiffness modes, and large-displacement effects.
- Experience with model-test correlation methodology, updating model parameters from test data and bounding residual correlation uncertainty.
- Familiarity with deployment dynamics simulation tools (multi-body dynamics, flexible-body simulation).
- Experience with structural error budgeting or requirements allocation across a multi-team program.
- Python or MATLAB scripting for pre/post-processing of analysis data.
Skills Required
- BS, MS, or Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
- Proficiency in FEA structural analysis (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent) for modal, static, and linear dynamics problems
- Experience performing structural analysis for flight or high-reliability hardware, including margin of safety calculations and requirements compliance
- Experience with structural dynamics (modal analysis, frequency response, eigenvalue methods)
- Ability to build and maintain a system-level integrated FEM incorporating inputs from multiple contributing teams at different fidelity levels
- Ph.D. (strongly preferred for the senior-level scope)
- Experience with large deployable structures (antennas, solar arrays, booms, or lightweight flexible systems), including geometric nonlinearity and large-displacement effects
- Experience with model-test correlation methodology and updating model parameters from test data
- Familiarity with deployment dynamics simulation tools (multi-body dynamics, flexible-body simulation)
- Experience with structural error budgeting or requirements allocation across a multi-team program
- Python or MATLAB scripting for pre/post-processing of analysis data
What We Do
E-Space is a global space company focused on bridging Earth and space with the most sustainable low earth orbit (LEO) network that is expected to reach over one hundred thousand multi-application communication satellites to help businesses and governments securely and affordably access the power of space to solve problems on Earth. Founded by industry pioneer Greg Wyler, E-Space is focused on democratizing space and transforming industries by bringing down the cost of space-based communications, raising the level of satellite system resiliency and setting a new standard in sustainable space infrastructure that will effectively minimize and reduce space debris and destruction while preserving access to space for future generations.
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