Your space-enabled career begins here

Mission

Aetherflux's mission is to deliver energy to planet Earth. Our work will make energy more accessible, establish American energy independence, power underdeveloped and disaster-stricken areas, and protect American warfighters.

Background

Aetherflux is taking a new approach to an old idea – space solar power. Our satellites will collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit and transmit that power through infrared lasers to portable ground receivers, providing reliable energy access where traditional delivery is expensive, challenging, or dangerous.

Current energy systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme weather, and physical and cyber attacks. Aetherflux overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable 24-hour energy distribution from space. This can revolutionize energy generation and delivery, and enable new capabilities as we deliver power to remote regions, military bases, bespoke operations, and unmanned autonomous systems.

Baiju Bhatt founded Aetherflux in 2024. Inspired by his father’s career at NASA, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before co-founding Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Aetherflux raised $60 million from Index Ventures, Interlagos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and others.

This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Aetherflux’s team has worked at places like SpaceX, NASA, Anduril, and the U.S. Navy, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.

Overview

We are looking to hire our first full-time Structural Analyst to lead the design, modeling, and validation of structural components for our current and future satellite systems, which include a constellation of modular satellites carrying precision optical payloads with tight jitter requirements and dynamic controls. As an early employee and member of our world-class engineering team, you’ll bring depth in analysis and a broad understanding of how structure interacts with dynamics, thermal systems, and constraints like cost and launch timelines. You’ll collaborate cross-functionally to build scalable, resilient, and elegant solutions that survive launch and thrive in orbit.

This is an in-person role at our San Carlos, CA HQ. You would join us on an aggressive timeline and see your work in space as we conduct our first space demonstration in the summer of 2026.

Responsibilities

• Own structural analysis across all phases of product development, from early conceptual architecture to detailed design
• Perform static, dynamic, and thermal-structural FEA, including:
• Linear/nonlinear simulation
• Random vibration and shock analysis
• Multibody dynamics and kinematics
• Fatigue and life estimation
• Component mode synthesis and coupled loads analysis
• Correlate analytical models with test data; update models and margins accordingly
• Define structural loads and environments, both internal and externally driven
• Collaborate with design engineers to balance mass, manufacturability, and performance
• Contribute to integrated STOP analysis of optical components and subsystems
• Lead structural test planning, execution, and data reduction for component and system-level tests
• Perform hand calculations and cross-checks to support and validate FEA
• Create simplified models and concepts to drive early design decisions
• Contribute to and refine internal standards, analysis workflows, and documentation practices
• Make risk-aware decisions that weigh speed, scalability, and system-level tradeoffs (make vs. buy)

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering field
• 5+ years of experience in structural analysis of aerospace, automotive, or high-performance mechanical systems
• Proficiency with at least one FEA software package (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS, Nastran, FEMAP, HyperWorks)
• Solid grasp of classical structural analysis methods (e.g., Bruhn, Roark, Niu)
• Experience with structural modeling fundamentals: boundary conditions, bolted joints, contact, nonlinear behavior
• Demonstrated ability to correlate simulation results with physical test data
• Hands-on experience with structural or vibration testing of components or systems
• Proficiency in technical scripting or automation tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB)
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Structural Engineering
• 8+ years of spacecraft structural analysis using NASTRAN
• Strong understanding of fatigue, fracture mechanics, and life prediction methods
• Experience with developing line-of-sight jitter models for optical payloads
• Experience with nonlinear FEA involving buckling, large deformations, or contact
• Familiarity with bolted joint analysis and standard aerospace practices (e.g., NASA-STD-5020, 5019)
• Skilled at developing free-body diagrams and hand calculations for loads and margins
• Experience writing and reviewing structural analysis reports for flight readiness or design review
• Background in failure analysis, root cause identification, or nonconformance resolution

Benefits

• Equity in Aetherflux
• Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid leave for new parents
• Relocation assistance
• Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

Disclaimer

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Aetherflux’s discretion.

Aetherflux is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Aetherflux is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.

The base salary starts at $145,000 and is dependent on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, qualifications, relevant education, certifications, and seniority. The range indicated is just one component of the total compensation package for employees.