Spacecraft Structural Engineer
Hybrid (Reading, UK)Full-timePosted 5mo ago
About the role
Structural Engineer to support design, analysis, testing, and qualification of spacecraft structures for VLEO missions, collaborating across mechanical, thermal, propulsion, systems, and AIT to ensure reliability in harsh orbital environments.
Responsibilities
- Perform structural analysis of flight hardware including spacecraft structures, propulsion subsystems, and mechanical assemblies. This includes static, modal, random vibration, sine, shock, and quasi-static load cases.
- Develop and validate finite element models (FEM) for spacecraft and high-performance aerospace structures.
- Perform hand calculations for preliminary analysis in support of FEA.
- Support structural sizing, stiffness optimisation, and load path analysis for launch and in-orbit environments.
- Plan and execute vibration, shock, and structural qualification testing campaigns end-to-end: write the test plan, instrument the hardware, interpret the data, correlate the model, and close out the qualification report.
- Instrument hardware using accelerometers and strain gauges, and correlate test results back to analytical models.
- Review engineering drawings and collaborate directly with designers to drive structural design decisions.
- Support qualification activities against relevant aerospace and space standards including GEVS, ECSS, and NASA requirements.
- Contribute to structural verification activities across development, integration, and test phases.
Qualifications
- Education: B.S. or M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field.
- 3+ years of structural analysis experience on flight hardware, including spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, or high-performance structures.
- Experience with structural analysis of a satellite's primary or secondary structure (i.e., the load-bearing bus/frame, not just a subsystem or payload) is strongly preferred.
- Experience with structural analysis of spacecraft structures and subsystems, including electronic boxes, propulsion systems, hydraulics, or solar panels.
- Experience with design for manufacturing (DFM).
- Hands-on experience with FEM and ability to justify modelling assumptions and approaches.
- Experience with Altair OptiStruct is a strong plus; proficiency with industry-standard solvers such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, or Abaqus is required.
- Familiarity with launch environments including random vibration PSDs, SRS shock spectra, and quasi-static load factors.
- Practical experience supporting environmental testing, including instrumentation with accelerometers and strain gauges and model correlation activities.
- Confidence reading and reviewing engineering drawings and working directly with design engineers on structural decisions.
Skills
Required:Structural analysisFinite element modellingFEM softwareLaunch/space environment exposure
Benefits
- Equity and competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits - Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, and annual health check-ups
- Hybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week
- Visa sponsorship and relocation support
Last updated Oct 8, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
About NewOrbit Space
Unlocking the vast opportunities of Earth's lowest orbit
NewOrbit is opening Ultra-Low Earth Orbit to the world—unlocking unmatched resolution, real-time global connectivity, and a truly sustainable approach to space.
spacesatellitesEarth observationconnectivityweather forecasting
More open roles at NewOrbit Space
- Electric Propulsion Test Engineer2w agoHybrid (Reading, UK) · Propulsion
- Electric Propulsion Engineer3w agoHybrid (Reading, UK) · Propulsion
- Commercial Lead1mo agoHybrid (Reading, UK) · Business
- VP Sales1mo agoHybrid (Reading, UK) · Business
- Satellite Mechanical Design Engineer2mo agoHybrid (Reading, UK) · Satellite