Spacecraft Structural Engineer

NewOrbit; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity (ownership stake)

Private health insurance

Hybrid working — one remote day per wk

Visa sponsorship

Relocation support

Job summary

NewOrbit Space in Reading, United Kingdom, seeks a Structural Engineer to design, analyse, test and qualify structures for VLEO missions. You will work across the full development lifecycle of flight hardware, from initial modelling and design reviews to environmental testing and validation.

You will collaborate with mechanical, thermal, propulsion, systems and AIT teams to ensure robust hardware capable of withstanding launch and long-duration operation in ultra-low Earth orbit, while complying

Qualifications

• 3+ years of structural analysis experience on flight hardware.
• Experience with primary/secondary spacecraft structure.
• Knowledge of launch environment vibrations.
• Hands-on FEM and model justification.
• Environmental testing instrumentation experience.
• Ability to read and review engineering drawings.
• DFM principles in design for manufacture.

Responsibilities

• Perform static, modal, random vibration, sine, shock, and quasi-static analyses.
• Develop and validate FEM for spacecraft structures.
• Carry out hand calculations to support FEA.
• Plan and execute vibration and structural qualification tests.
• Instrument hardware with accelerometers and strain gauges.
• Review drawings and influence structural design decisions.
• Ensure compliance with GEVS, ECSS, and NASA requirements.

Skills

Structural analysis

FEM/FEA

DFM

Model correlation

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical/Structural Engineering

Tools

Altair OptiStruct

NASTRAN

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

COMPANY

NewOrbit builds satellites that fly in very low Earth orbit, below 300 km, along with the electric propulsion that keeps them there.

Flying closer to Earth means sharper imagery from smaller optics, and an orbit that cleans itself: our satellites de-orbit within a month at end of life, leaving no debris.

Our AURA family of RF gridded ion thrusters powers our own NEO-1 satellite, with first flight planned for Q3 2028, and is also offered to other operators.

Electric propulsion is what lets our satellites hold very low orbits, and our AURA RF gridded ion thruster is at the centre of it.

YOUR ROLE

We are seeking a Structural Engineer to support the design, analysis, testing, and qualification of structures for our VLEO satellite missions. You will work across the full development lifecycle of flight hardware, from early structural modelling and design reviews through environmental testing and validation, helping ensure the reliability and survivability of spacecraft operating in one of the harshest orbital environments.

You will work closely with mechanical, thermal, propulsion, systems, and AIT teams to develop structurally robust hardware capable of surviving launch and sustained operations in Ultra-Low Earth Orbit.

KEY 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 test 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.

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• 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.

NICE-TO-HAVES

• Experience with analysis of composite materials.
• Experience with material testing, metallic and composites

WHY NEWORBIT SPACE?

• Pioneering space technology - Your work on our RF gridded ion thrusters and VLEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and challenge traditional LEO.
• Ownership and impact - You'll have a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry, and you'll take part in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
• Equity and competitive salary - Alongside a competitive salary you receive a company ownership stake, so you share in the technology you help build and in our collective success.
• 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 - We sponsor visas and provide relocation support for candidates moving to join us.