
(Pipeline) Structural Analyst, Space Emerging Talent
Costa Mesa · Costa Mesa, CA (OC-00) · USD 86,000-114,000 · Posted Sep 25, 2026
At a glance
- Location
- Costa Mesa · Costa Mesa, CA (OC-00)
- Salary
- USD 86,000-114,000 · Base salary
About the role
- You'll own spacecraft and payload structural analysis from conceptual design through environmental testing and launch.
- Unlike larger firms where analysts get siloed into statics or dynamics, you'll work across both.
- Most of our programs are early-stage, so you'll shape designs from the start and see your analysis carry hardware all the way to orbit.
Responsibilities
- Perform static and dynamic stress analysis — starting with hand calculations and first-order models before moving to detailed computational methods.
- Quantify load cases and environments for launch and on-orbit operations; determine strength, life, and safety margins.
- Collaborate with hardware engineers to guide design decisions based on analysis results.
- Support test campaigns — instrumentation selection, execution, data processing, and model correlation.
- Lead trade studies and mass optimization efforts.
- Prepare technical reports and present findings to internal teams and customers.
Requirements
- BS or higher in engineering or applied physics with a focus in structures.
- Strong foundation in statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and materials properties.
- First-principles mindset — comfortable starting with hand calculations to frame problems before reaching for detailed tools.
- Experience with CAD tools (NX, Solidworks, or similar).
- Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for analytical models and data processing.
- Involvement in a hands-on technical project — competitive engineering club (FSAE, Baja, rocket team, aerospace club) or a co-op/internship analyzing or designing real hardware.
- Highly motivated, self-starting, and comfortable working autonomously.
- Organized and willing to define scope for problems with undefined requirements.
- Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with FEA software (ANSYS, Abaqus, or NASTRAN).
- Structural testing experience — sensor selection, data acquisition, and post-processing.
- Co-op or internship in a startup or fast-paced engineering environment.
- Familiarity with industry standards for materials (MMPDS) or analysis methodologies (GSFC-STD-7000, NASA-HDBK-7002, NASA-STD-5020).
- Eligibility to obtain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
Benefits
- Highly competitive equity grants included in the majority of full time offers
- Comprehensive, competitive benefits package available at little to no cost to employees supporting health, recovery, and what comes next
Skills
- NX
- Solidworks
- MATLAB
- Python
- ANSYS
- Abaqus
- NASTRAN