Materials and Structures Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

We are seeking a Structures & Materials Engineer to lead the design, analysis, qualification, and continuous improvement of structural and thermal components supporting next-generation rocket propulsion systems and flight vehicles. In this role, you will work across design, manufacturing, and test organizations to develop high-performance hardware capable of operating in extreme environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight structures, rocket motor cases, nozzles, and other structural components for propulsion systems.
• Perform structural and thermal finite element analyses (FEA) using tools such as ANSYS or Abaqus.
• Select and qualify aerospace materials, including composites, metals, insulation, and thermal protection materials.
• Support the design, qualification, and implementation of additive manufacturing solutions for structural components.
• Lead structural failure investigations, perform root cause analyses, and implement corrective actions.
• Support component qualification, static-fire testing, and flight test activities by analyzing test data and validating designs.
• Collaborate with propulsion, manufacturing, systems, and test engineering teams to optimize performance, manufacturability, reliability, and weight.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance structural performance and production efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing and analyzing aerospace structural components.
• Experience performing structural and thermal finite element analysis using ANSYS, Abaqus, or similar software.
• Strong understanding of composite materials and aerospace metals.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations.

Preferred Qualification:

• Experience designing structures for rocket propulsion, missile, launch vehicle, or hypersonic systems.
• Knowledge of thermal protection systems (TPS), insulation materials, and high-temperature structural applications.
• Experience supporting static-fire testing, structural qualification, or flight test programs.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing processes and design for additive manufacturing (DfAM).
• Active U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.