Spacecraft Structural Engineer

Spacecraft Structural Engineer

iO Associates are partnered with an innovative and fast-growing space technology company that is developing next-generation satellite platforms designed to operate in extremely low Earth orbit. As the organisation continues to expand its engineering team, they are seeking a Spacecraft Structural Engineer to support the design, analysis, testing and qualification of mission-critical spacecraft hardware.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a business at the forefront of satellite innovation, working across the full lifecycle of flight hardware development in a highly collaborative environment.

The Role

As a Spacecraft Structural Engineer, you will be responsible for the structural analysis, verification and qualification of spacecraft systems and subsystems. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, propulsion, thermal, systems and integration disciplines, you will help deliver robust hardware capable of surviving both launch and demanding in-orbit environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform structural analysis of spacecraft hardware, propulsion systems and mechanical assemblies.
• Conduct assessments covering static, modal, random vibration, sine vibration, shock and quasi-static load cases.
• Develop, refine and validate finite element models (FEM) for spacecraft structures.
• Perform hand calculations to support and verify analytical models.
• Support structural sizing, stiffness optimisation and load-path analysis.
• Plan and execute environmental test campaigns, including vibration and shock testing.
• Instrument hardware using accelerometers and strain gauges, and correlate test data against analytical models.
• Review engineering drawings and collaborate with design engineers to influence structural decisions.
• Support qualification and verification activities in line with recognised aerospace and space industry standards.
• Contribute throughout development, integration, testing and flight-readiness activities.

Your Profile

• Degree qualified in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years experience in structural analysis of flight hardware, spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles or other high-performance aerospace structures.
• Experience analysing spacecraft structures and subsystems such as propulsion systems, electronics enclosures, solar arrays or similar assemblies.
• Strong understanding of design for manufacture principles.
• Hands-on experience developing and validating FEM models.
• Experience using industry-standard analysis tools such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, Abaqus or Altair OptiStruct.
• Understanding of launch environments, including vibration, shock and quasi-static load requirements.
• Practical experience supporting environmental test campaigns and model correlation activities.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and work closely with design teams.
• Experience working with composite structures and materials is desireable.
• Background in metallic and composite materials testing is desireable.

What's on Offer?

• Equity participation.
• Private healthcare including dental and optical cover.
• Hybrid working arrangement.
• Relocation assistance.
• Visa sponsorship available.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge spacecraft programmes from concept through to launch.
• Significant technical ownership and influence within a growing engineering team.

If you're a structural engineer looking to play a key role in the development of next-generation space systems and want to work in a highly ambitious, fast-scaling environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now or contact iO Associates for more information.