Structural Engineer II

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design and analysis of composite, metallic, and hybrid structures for deployable space systems and precision mechanisms.
• Develop and manage verifiable pointing/shape error budgets for precision structures accounting for error sources resulting from thermal, dynamic, manufacturing, material and other effects.
• Build and run FEA and classical analysis models to evaluate strength, stiffness, stability, dynamics, and environmental performance.
• Support the design and analysis of mechanical deployment systems.
• Assist in developing structural verification plans, including test setup definition, instrumentation coordination, and correlation of analysis to test data.
• Participate in material selection, laminate design, and structural configuration decisions for composite components.
• Help generate load cases for launch, on orbit, and deployment environments.
• Perform structural sizing, margin calculations, and mass efficiency assessments under guidance from senior engineers.
• Produce engineering drawings, specifications, and supporting documentation.
• Work with manufacturing and test teams to resolve build issues, interpret test results, and iterate designs.
• Cook with composites manufacturing to ensure analysis inputs are reflected in build strategies.
• Contribute technical content for proposals and participate in customer discussions as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Structural, Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in structural design and analysis, ideally with exposure to precision spacecraft structures, deployables, or other high performance aerospace systems
• Proficiency with CAD/PLM tools such as SolidWorks
• Experience with FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, COMSOL)
• Working knowledge of composite structures, laminate theory, and failure analysis.
• Familiarity with composite manufacturing processes, prototype fabrication, and test fixture design
• Hands‑on experience supporting structural testing and correlating analysis to test data
• Ability to work independently on moderately complex problems and contribute to larger technical efforts
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with deployable space structures and space mechanisms, e.g., RF systems, solar arrays, and booms
• Familiarity with nonlinear analysis, dynamics, buckling, or thermal structural coupling
• Demonstrable experience with Structural-Thermal-Optical Performance (STOP) analysis for precision opto-mechanical space structures
• Knowledge of aerospace standards (NASA, DoD, ECSS) and qualification processes
• Experience with people management and a desire to mentor others
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range of $98,000-122,000 based on experience and qualifications
• Flexible and hybrid work schedules (two or more days in office per week)
• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life, and AD&D insurance
• Opterus pays 100% of employees’ premiums and 70% of dependents’ premiums
• 401K matching up to 4%
• 9 paid holidays