Lead Stress Engineer

Orbex; Forres; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering micro-launch company as a Lead Stress Engineer, where you will take on a technical leadership role in structural analysis and failure mode analysis. This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge rocket technology and contribute to the development of innovative launch vehicles. With a focus on mass-efficient structural parts for aerospace applications, you will collaborate closely with design teams and support hardware development. This is a unique chance to be part of a rapidly growing company that is making significant strides in the aerospace industry, all while being based in the beautiful surroundings of Forres, Scotland.

Benefits

34 days paid holiday

NEST workplace pension

Cycle to Work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Group Life Insurance

Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance

Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace/Mechanical engineering or equivalent required.
• Experience in structural analysis for high-performance applications.

Responsibilities

• Perform and document structural analysis for composite and metallic components.
• Define analysis and test plans from high-level requirements.

Skills

Structural Analysis

Failure Mode Analysis

Team Collaboration

Communication Skills

Static Testing

Problem-Solving

Education

Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FEMAP

Nastran

Hypermesh

Optistruct

CAD Systems

Job description

Orbex is looking for a Lead Stress Engineer to join our flight structures team in the development of Orbex Prime. This is a technical leadership position for structural analysis, failure mode analysis, and to support testing.

About Orbex

Orbex is a leading micro-launch company with our Prime and Proxima launch vehicles being prepared to launch from Scotland. We are well placed to be one of the first operational micro-launch companies in Europe with over €122m/£103m of project financing secured, a number of customers signed up, launch licence application submitted, and backing from organisations including UKSA and ESA.

We are a rapidly growing company with staff located between our production and test facilities in Forres, Scotland and Copenhagen, Denmark. Working on cutting-edge advances in rocket fuel technology, Prime’s carbon footprint is up to 96% lower than comparable vehicles, leading to innovations in propulsion and tank structures. A state-of-the-art re-flight system means we can recover and reuse our technology, and innovations in separation mechanisms mean we leave no debris in orbit.

Having developed in-house production capability, we can 3D print complex engines, produce full-scale carbon composite fuel tanks, and have avionics and software testing labs in both Scotland and Denmark.

Based in Forres, you will be right in the heart of this fast-paced cutting-edge company, gaining a unique insight into what it takes to build a new launch vehicle for a buoyant commercial market.

Orbex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is working towards a more diverse workforce in the aerospace industry.

The Position

Role And Responsibilities

• Perform, validate and document structural analysis using hand calculations and FEA for composite and metallic components and assemblies.
• Work with the design team to iterate concepts using appropriate sizing and optimisation methods to enable a ‘design by analysis’ approach.
• Working from high-level requirements, define analysis and test plans.
• Provide practical support to hardware development and testing as required.

Required Qualifications And Experience

• Educated to degree level or higher in Aerospace/Mechanical engineering or equivalent.
• Demonstrable industry experience in the analysis of mass-efficient structural parts for high-performance applications typified by space, aerospace, defence, and motorsport.
• Proficient in one or more industry-standard FEA packages (preferably FEMAP, Nastran, Hypermesh, Optistruct).
• Ability to use CAD systems with an emphasis on geometry preparation for analysis.
• Proactive and strong team player with excellent communication skills.
• Experience in static testing and failure mode analysis.
• Adaptable and able to work under pressure across multiple concurrent workstreams.

Desirable Qualifications And Experience

• Experience of composite structural analysis for space/aerospace applications including highly loaded mechanical and adhesively bonded joints.
• Working knowledge of linear, non-linear, thermo-elastic, buckling, modal, sinusoidal and random vibration analysis methodologies as applicable to aerospace applications.
• Experience designing and/or analysing COPVs or composite pressure structures.
• Experience in design, search and optimisation workflows for structural development.
• Familiarity with industry standards and references (e.g. MIL-HDBK-5/17, ECSS-E-HB-32, NASA-STD-5001, GSFC-STD-7000).
• Familiarity with standard aerospace structural methods such as ESDU, Bruhn, Nui etc.
• Experience in materials and structures test, characterisation and allowable development.

Location – Forres

• Our roles need to be on-site in Scotland due to the nature of the position, export controls and security. This role is based in Forres at Orbex’s headquarters.

Security

You must be a UK or European citizen or from a country that is a signatory to the MTCR convention. You may be required to undergo a UK BPSS check which includes a criminal record check.

Benefits – UK

• Salary of £48-65k depending on experience.
• 34 days paid holiday including bank and public holidays.
• NEST workplace pension.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme, including: mortgage advice, health and wellbeing apps.
• Group Life Insurance, x4 annual salary.
• Independent supporting services including: mortgage advice and health and wellbeing apps.
• Orbex are able to sponsor visas for you and your family and provide comprehensive relocation assistance, including 1 month of accommodation in the local area paid for by the company, a relocation allowance, and full support through the visa application process.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing