Structural Analyst

The role

You will own structural prediction and design verification, including loads, models, margins, and data. You will derive load cases, perform various structural analyses, and develop tools and templates for the team.

What you will do

• Own the full lifecycle of structural prediction and data.
• Derive and maintain structural load sets.
• Perform static strength and stability analysis.
• Perform fatigue and durability analysis.
• Perform fracture and damage-tolerance analysis.
• Develop tools, scripts, templates, and checklists for structural analyses.
• Select and apply material allowables.
• Define test objectives and pass/fail criteria.
• Perform data reduction for structural test data and correlate predictions.
• Support anomaly investigation and root cause analysis.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience performing structural analysis for flight vehicles, propulsion systems, or other high-performance hardware.
• Strong fundamentals in solid mechanics, structural analysis, stability, and materials behavior.
• Demonstrated experience determining static strength, stability, and fatigue analysis.
• Knowledgeable in damage-tolerance and crack-growth methods.
• Proficiency with commercial FEA tools for linear and nonlinear structural problems.
• Ability to substantiate results with classical hand calculations.
• Proficiency with Python or MATLAB for analysis automation, post-processing, and tool development.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice to have

• 10+ years of experience performing structural analysis for flight vehicles, propulsion systems, or other high-performance hardware.
• Direct experience with launch vehicle, spacecraft, or rocket engine structures.
• Experience with formal fracture control programs and standards such as NASA-STD-5019.
• Experience with crack-growth tools such as NASGRO or AFGROW.
• Familiarity with NASA-STD-5001 and NASA-STD-5002 structural design and verification requirements.
• Experience with structural dynamics: modal survey and correlation, random vibration, shock, and coupled loads analysis.
• Experience with composite and bonded structure analysis.
• Experience analyzing pressure vessels, tanks, or pressurized structures to ASME BPVC or AIAA S-080/S-081.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant industry standards and material allowables sources.
• Experience with nonlinear FEA.

Benefits

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Daily lunch in the office
• Fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State to conform to ITAR.

About the company

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure for abundant, resilient space-based solar energy. The company is based in San Carlos, CA.