Head of Structures

Head of Structures

About the Company

Our client is building an orbital-class launch vehicle designed for reuse.

Industry
Aviation & Aerospace

Type
Privately Held

About the Role

The Company is seeking a Head of Structures to join their world-class team. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining and executing the structural engineering strategy for an orbital-class launch vehicle. This includes leading the development of major structural elements, such as propellant tanks, thrust structures, and fairings, from concept to flight hardware. The role involves building and leading a multidisciplinary engineering team, driving structural design across various load environments, and ensuring that structural solutions integrate seamlessly at the vehicle level. The Head of Structures will also be involved in material and process selection, establishing structural analysis and test approaches, and maintaining design and analysis standards for safety and manufacturability. Applicants for the Head of Structures position at the company should have a proven track record in structural design, analysis, and development for high-performance aerospace or similarly demanding hardware. Deep experience in primary structures for weight-critical systems and a strong grounding in structural mechanics are essential. The ideal candidate will have a startup fluency, with a history of leading structural development from concept to validation, and a genuine cross-functional range that encompasses design, analysis, manufacturing, test, and systems engineering. While not mandatory, experience with aerospace structural systems and exposure to space and aerospace loads is preferred. The role requires a hands-on approach, the ability to make critical decisions, and a focus on driving design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly decisions. An advanced degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering is also desirable.

Functions

• Engineering