Structural Engineer - Solar Arrays

Zero to One Search | Recruitment Agency; Germering; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing program

Pension contributions

Modern equipment

Office amenities

Hybrid work

Training budget

Company events

Job summary

Dcubed is seeking a Structural Engineer - Solar Arrays (f/m/d) to verify the structures and mechanisms that enable our deployable solar arrays to survive launch and deploy in orbit. You will perform advanced simulations, first-principles engineering, and hands-on testing to turn ambitious designs into flight-ready hardware.

Responsibilities include FEM modeling, structural analyses of deployable structures, defining test campaigns, and supporting verification with instrumentation and data

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical/Aerospace/Structural Eng.
• 3+ years in structural analysis and testing of aerospace structures.
• Experience bringing hardware from analysis to testing and verification.
• Experience with composite structures, deployable systems, or spacecraft hardware.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analyses of solar arrays and deployable structures.
• Develop and validate FEM models for static, dynamic, thermoelastic, buckling, and non‑linear analyses.
• Size composite and metallic structures, bolted joints, inserts, and calculate structural margins of safety.
• Cross-check simulation results and verify model assumptions.
• Lead structural test campaigns, including vibration, static load, deployment, and thermal testing.
• Define loads, instrumentation, notching approaches, test predictions, and pass/fail criteria.
• Participate in test execution, investigate anomalies, and support verification closure.
• Build and test coupons, prototypes, and representative hardware to generate material data.
• Prepare structural analyses, test reports, and verification documentation.

Skills

Structural analysis

FEM analysis

FEMAP

Nastran NX

Python

MATLAB

ECSS/NASA

Aerospace hardware

Education

BSc/MSc in Mechanical/Aerospace Eng

Tools

FEMAP

Nastran NX

Ansys

LS-Dyna

Job description

Dcubed is a fast-growing space engineering company with the mission to make space engineering and exploration easy and accessible. What makes Dcubed special is that each of us is a space explorer at heart.

At Dcubed, we enable the future of space missions with high-performance, flight-proven release mechanisms and deployable structures. From cutting-edge Release Actuators to scalable Deployable Solar Arrays and innovative Deployable Antennas, our technologies are designed for user friendliness, availability, and reliability — whether for smallsats in LEO or large missions to Moon, Mars and beyond.

About the role

Space hardware must survive launch before it can perform its mission. Your analyses and tests will prove that it can.

As Structural Engineer - Solar Arrays (f/m/d), you will verify the structures and mechanisms that enable Dcubed's solar arrays to survive launch and deploy successfully in orbit. Through a combination of advanced simulation, first-principles engineering, and hands‑on testing, you will turn ambitious designs into flight‑ready hardware.

If you enjoy understanding the physics behind complex systems, challenging assumptions, and validating your work through testing, this role is for you.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analyses of solar arrays, deployable structures, mechanisms, and hold-down and release systems.
• Develop and validate FEM models for static, dynamic, thermoelastic, buckling, and non‑linear analyses.
• Size composite and metallic structures, bonded joints, bolted interfaces, and inserts, and calculate structural margins of safety.
• Use analytical calculations and engineering judgement to cross‑check simulation results and verify model assumptions.
• Support the design of lightweight structures and mechanisms capable of surviving launch loads and deploying successfully in orbit.
• Define and lead structural test campaigns, including vibration, static load, deployment, and thermal testing.
• Define loads, instrumentation, notching approaches, test predictions, and pass/fail criteria.
• Participate in test execution, investigate anomalies, correlate models, and support verification closure.
• Build and test coupons, prototypes, and representative hardware to generate material data and validate analytical models.
• Prepare structural analyses, test reports, and verification documentation, and support internal and customer reviews.

Candidate Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in structural analysis and testing of aerospace, space, or other high-performance structures.
• Experience taking hardware from analysis through testing and verification.
• Experience with composite structures, deployable systems, mechanisms, or spacecraft hardware is highly desirable.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, dynamics, vibration, and load‑path analysis.
• Advanced FEM knowledge and strong experience with FEMAP and Nastran NX.
• Experience with Ansys and LS-Dyna is considered an advantage.
• Experience performing static, modal, random vibration, transient, buckling, thermoelastic, and non‑linear analyses.
• Experience sizing composite and metallic structures, bolted joints, inserts, and bonded interfaces.
• Ability to assess structural margins and independently verify simulation results using first‑principles calculations.
• Experience defining and executing structural test campaigns, including instrumentation, notching, and model correlation.
• Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for engineering calculations and data analysis.
• Familiarity with ECSS, NASA, or equivalent aerospace structural standards.

Personal Attributes

• Analytical, rigorous, and driven to understand the physics behind the results.
• Strong sense of ownership from analysis through successful test execution.
• Hands‑on mindset with a willingness to prototype, instrument, and test hardware.
• Excellent problem‑solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Effective communicator and team player in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced startup environment.
• Eligibility to work in Germany

What we offer

We want you to feel welcome and have the best possible tools for your work here at Dcubed. Therefore, we have selected a set of benefits to support your work days and everyday life, today and longer term.

• Wellbeing: EGYM Wellpass, recovery toolkit
• ETF‑based pension program offering 30-50% company contribution
• Modern work equipment, based on your role and needs: laptop, phone, headphones, electric desk, wide screens, state‑of‑the‑art workshop equipment
• Office environment: kitchen and break areas; lunch offering, beverages & snacks at the office; small exercise area, Space Bar
• Work‑life balance & activities: hybrid work arrangements (location and working hours), company events and trips, launch parties
• Professional development: 70-20-10 thinking, training budget, training library, regular performance reviews
• Company swag: hoodie, t-shirt, stickers, water bottle, notebook etc.