Your space-enabled career begins here

Position: Senior Spacecraft Structural Engineer– Quantum Space
Location: Rockville, MD
Commitment: Full-time

Who We’re Looking For

Quantum Space is reshaping how humanity operates in space with highly maneuverable, long-life spacecraft platforms. We’re searching for a Senior Spacecraft Structural Engineer to lead the development, analysis, and verification of structural systems across multiple flight programs.

In this senior role, you will take full ownership of spacecraft structural modeling efforts—from model intake and build-out to test correlation and flight readiness. You will serve as the technical authority on structural analysis, guiding junior engineers, coordinating cross-functional efforts, and informing executive decisions with high-confidence structural data.

Where You’ll Make an Impact

Technical Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of structural analysis efforts across multiple vehicle programs.
• Define structural architecture, margin strategies, and modeling standards to ensure mission and schedule success.
• Mentor and guide junior analysts and mechanical engineers on modeling best practices and analysis fundamentals.
• Review and approve structural analysis plans, documentation, and correlation reports.

Structural Modeling & Analysis (Core Focus)

• Own spacecraft structural model development using FEMAP and NASTRAN, working directly from Creo geometry.
• Perform high-fidelity static, modal, dynamic response, acoustic, shock, and thermal-structural coupled analyses.
• Drive system-level trade studies to optimize structural performance, mass, and stiffness.

CAD Integration & Workflow

• Establish workflows for efficient FEM generation from Creo and interface with design engineers to ensure analysis-readiness.
• Develop and maintain parametric FEM templates and reusable modeling assets to streamline the design cycle.

Structural Verification & Test Support

• Define verification plans including analytical margin justification, FEM-to-test correlation, and model updates post-test.
• Lead support for environmental test campaigns, from pre-test predictions to real-time response interpretation and correlation.
• Provide technical leadership for system and subsystem-level structural test readiness reviews.

Cross-Functional Integration

• Collaborate with mechanical, propulsion, avionics, GNC, and thermal teams to ensure structurally sound designs across interfaces.
• Represent structural engineering in design reviews, customer discussions, and executive briefings.
• Identify program risks and mitigation strategies related to structural integrity and test readiness.

What It Takes

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in structural analysis for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or equivalent aerospace hardware.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience across multiple programs or large-scale structural subsystems.
• Deep proficiency in FEMAP and NASTRAN for spacecraft applications.
• Strong experience building structural models directly from Creo assemblies.
• Expertise in dynamic environments: launch loads, sine/random vibration, shock, and acoustic response.
• Experience developing and executing correlation strategies using test data to validate structural models.
• Knowledge of aerospace materials, bolted joints, weldments, and composite structures.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience in propulsion system structural analysis, including thin-walled structures and weldments.
• Experience developing Craig-Bampton reduced-order models or other modal reduction techniques.
• Familiarity with scripting in Python or MATLAB for automation of FEM workflows and post-processing.
• Hands-on experience supporting vibration, acoustic, or shock testing, including fixture design and instrumentation planning.
• Familiarity with fracture mechanics and tools such as NASGRO.
• Understanding of industry standards such as NASA-STD-5001, SMC-S-016, and MIL-STD-1540.

What You’ll Get

• Leadership – Ownership over structural architecture, modeling approaches, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Innovation – Opportunities to define modeling standards and test strategies for new classes of spacecraft.
• Impact – Your analysis will directly inform flight readiness and mission assurance.
• Growth – A technical leadership track in a fast-growing space company with bold ambitions.
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and top-tier benefits, including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.

Additional Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Apply now. Let’s launch the future, together.