Director, Engineering Analysis

Axiom Space; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom Space is seeking a bold and dynamic Director Engineering Analysis to lead a centralized Center of Excellence that supports its complex human-spaceflight programs.

This role establishes unified analytical standards, drives modeling and simulation quality, and ensures compliance with NASA standards while delivering high-fidelity analyses across spacecraft programs. It requires strong leadership in a matrixed environment and collaboration with NASA centers and industry partners.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive engineering analysis experience within aerospace, spacecraft development, or human-rated systems.
• 8+ years of engineering leadership experience, including managing managers and large multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with NASA programs, standards, analytical requirements, and human-rated system verification.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Engineering Analysis organization with a culture of technical excellence.
• Establish unified analytical standards, processes, and best practices across structural, thermal, fluids, loads, dynamics, and multidisciplinary analysis teams.
• Oversee full analytical lifecycle from requirements definition through certification and mission readiness.
• Collaborate with NASA centers, commercial clients, industry partners, and internal stakeholders to deliver mission-critical analytical products.
• Communicate analytical progress, technical status, risks, and issues to leadership and key stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Space systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering

Master’s or Ph.D. in engineering (preferred)

Tools

Modeling & simulation tools

Job description

Axiom Space is guided by the vision to build era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere. Axiom Space is the leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit. Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – a permanent commercial destination in low-Earth orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home.

Axiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives. We are the pioneers of commercial space, leading the transformation of low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace. Our mission-driven team is seeking a bold and dynamic Director Engineering Analysis who is fueled by high accountability, execution horsepower, and driven to understand our world, science/technology, and life itself, for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond.

Position Summary: Since Axiom Space is a very complex work environment, we are looking for a resilient, high-energy Director Engineering Analysis to lead and mature a centralized Center of Excellence that supports Axiom’s complex human‑spaceflight programs.

The Director of Engineering Analysis establishes unified analytical standards, processes, and best practices that elevate technical rigor, strengthen cross‑program collaboration, and ensure consistent delivery of high‑fidelity structural, thermal, fluids, and multidisciplinary analyses across all spacecraft and space infrastructure programs.

This leader drives analytical excellence across the full engineering lifecycle requirements, modeling, simulation, verification, validation, and certification; while ensuring strict compliance with NASA standards, human‑rated requirements, and mission assurance expectations.

The role is accountable for scaling analytical capabilities across multiple programs, optimizing resources in a matrixed environment, and enabling organizational knowledge sharing. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in spacecraft analysis disciplines, advanced modeling and simulation methods, structural and thermal analysis, loads and dynamics, and safety‑critical analytical verification. They partner closely with NASA centers, commercial customers, and industry stakeholders to deliver mission‑critical analytical products that underpin safe, reliable human spaceflight systems.

This position blends strategic leadership with hands‑on technical insight to advance a world‑class Engineering Analysis organization capable of supporting a complex, multi‑mission aerospace portfolio.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Engineering Analysis organization, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and high performance.
• Build and mentor a strong leadership bench, ensuring effective coaching, career development, and succession planning across analysis disciplines.
• Set the strategic vision for the Engineering Analysis Center of Excellence aligned with company and program objectives.
• Establish and enforce unified analytical standards, processes, methodologies, and best practices across structural, thermal, fluids, loads, dynamics, and multidisciplinary analysis teams.
• Champion analytical governance, model validation, design assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all analytical products comply with industry standards, program requirements, and mission assurance expectations.
• Oversee the full analytical lifecycle, including requirements definition, modeling, simulation, analysis, correlation, verification, validation, and certification support.
• Provide technical oversight and decision authority for complex analytical approaches, modeling strategies, load environments, thermal architectures, and integrated spacecraft analysis.
• Drive cross‑program coordination to optimize analytical resources, scalability, and organizational efficiency in a matrixed environment.
• Support program leadership in risk management, design reviews, anomaly resolution, and mission readiness milestones with high‑quality analytical insight.
• Collaborate with NASA centers, commercial clients, industry partners, and internal stakeholders to deliver mission‑critical analytical products and technical solutions.
• Communicate analytical progress, technical status, risks, and issues to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Identify emerging analytical tools, modeling technologies, capability gaps, and strategic investments to advance long‑term technical excellence.
• Promote adoption of advanced simulation tools, digital engineering methods, and model‑based approaches to enhance analytical efficiency and product quality.
• Perform additional duties assigned to support organizational and programmatic needs.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline required.
• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in an engineering field preferred, particularly with aerospace, human spaceflight, or advanced analysis relevance.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering analysis experience within aerospace, spacecraft development, or human‑rated systems.
• 8+ years of engineering leadership experience, including managing managers and large multidisciplinary analysis teams.
• Demonstrated success leading analytical organizations in complex, fast‑paced, mission‑driven environments.
• Proven ability to develop and implement analytical standards, processes, and governance frameworks.
• Extensive experience working with NASA programs, standards, analytical requirements, and human‑rated system verification.
• Direct involvement in full lifecycle development of spacecraft analytical products—from concept modeling through certification and mission readiness.
• Experience driving cross‑program alignment, resource planning, and organizational scaling within a centralized engineering structure.
• Strong background collaborating with government agencies, high‑profile customers, and industry partners on mission‑critical systems.
• Track record of delivering results in ambiguous, rapidly evolving environments.
• Demonstrated sound judgment and proactive problem solving in high‑stakes technical contexts.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to meet tight deadlines while maintaining high‑quality outcomes.

Core Skills

• Passion for space and the mission
• Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
• High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally
• Tech‑solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Technical Rigor
• Execution Discipline
• Pride of Delivery

Work Environment

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.

Requirements

• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation
• Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones

Physical Requirements

• Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time)
• May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)
• Equipment and Machines
• Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)

Axiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.