Mechanical Engineer — Structural Dynamics Analyst Hardware

Front Door Defense; Saratoga (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

E-Space is seeking a Mechanical Engineer — Structural Dynamics Analyst in Saratoga, CA to lead structural and dynamic analyses of spacecraft components across launch and in-orbit operations. You will develop FE models using NASTRAN/ANSYS/Femap, correlate with test data, and support design reviews.

Collaboration with design, systems, and test teams is essential. Requirements include a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a related field and 3+ years of experience in structural dynamics, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering or closely related field.
• 3+ years hands-on experience in structural dynamics analysis, preferably in space/high-reliability environments.
• Experience with major FEA tools and launch-load environments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct structural and modal analyses to ensure integrity across mission phases.
• Develop, maintain, and validate finite element models throughout the design lifecycle.
• Correlate analytical models with structural test campaigns and verification activities.
• Define and support structural test plans including qualification and acceptance testing.

Skills

FEA

Modal analysis

Model correlation

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Aerospace/Mechanical/Structural Eng

Tools

NASTRAN

ANSYS

Femap

Job description

Mechanical Engineer — Structural Dynamics Analyst

Lead structural dynamics analyses to ensure spacecraft integrity across launch and in-orbit operations

Location: Saratoga, California

Compensation: $90,000 - 150,000 USD / year

About The Role

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you've come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of space-powered Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are fundamentally changing the design, economics, manufacturing, coverage limitations and service delivery associated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

By building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system—with a unique antenna design, highly sustainable spacecraft system and low-cost, small portable end-user devices—we can extend global satellite coverage, capacity and connectivity beyond legacy space services to provide a new kind of IoT platform that lets users sense, track, connect and act on information gathered, anywhere.

We're intentional, we're unapologetically curious and we're 100% committed to saving space, protecting our planet and turning connectivity into actionable intelligence.

As a Mechanical Engineer — Structural Dynamics Analyst, you will be responsible for ensuring the structural integrity and survivability of spacecraft internal components and sensitive sub-systems. You will lead structural and dynamic analyses across the full launch and flight environment, working closely with design, systems, and test teams to bring rigorous analytical discipline to every phase of development. This is a highly cross-functional role that sits at the intersection of analysis, design, and hardware verification.

This role is based in our Saratoga, CA office.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct structural and modal analyses to ensure the integrity and survivability of spacecraft internal components and sensitive sub-systems across all mission phases.
• Perform finite element analysis (FEA) using tools such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, or Femap to evaluate satellite structures for launch environments, including random vibration, sine sweep, shock, and acoustic loading.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical design teams to optimize mass and stiffness trade-offs, providing timely analysis feedback to inform design decisions and margin management.
• Develop, maintain, and validate finite element models throughout the design lifecycle, ensuring models are representative of the evolving hardware configuration.
• Correlate analytical models with structural test campaigns or other verification activities that validate structural predictions for the full flight assembly.
• Define and support structural test plans, including qualification and acceptance testing for launch loads, and provide analysis support during test execution and data review.
• Generate and maintain structural analysis reports, load budgets, and margin summaries in accordance with project requirements and applicable standards (e.g., ECSS, NASA-STD).
• Participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and present analysis results, assumptions, and conclusions to internal and customer stakeholders.
• Identify structural risks early and propose mitigation strategies in coordination with systems engineering and project management.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in structural dynamics analysis, preferably in a space, defense, or high‑reliability hardware environment.
• Proficiency in at least one major FEA tool: NASTRAN (MSC or NX), ANSYS, or Femap.
• Working knowledge of launch load environments: random vibration, sine, shock, and acoustic.
• Experience developing and running modal analyses and interpreting results in the context of structural qualification requirements.
• Familiarity with model correlation techniques and test‑analysis correlation (TAC) methods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical results clearly.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands‑on involvement in structural test campaigns — sine sweep, random vibration, acoustic, or modal survey testing.
• Familiarity with composite structures analysis and associated failure criteria.
• Experience working within a concurrent engineering or agile hardware development environment.
• Knowledge of thermal‑structural interface analysis or multi‑physics simulation.

$90,000 - $150,000 a year The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position in question, which is based on market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on location, skills and expertise, depth of relevant experience, and other relevant factors. For questions about this, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply for the role and are selected for an interview.

We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we're looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in‑orbit activities. If that's your experience – then we'll be immediately wow‑ed.

E‑Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.

Why E‑Space is right for you:

We want you to make the most of your journey at E‑Space. That's why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well‑being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E‑Space:

• An opportunity to really make a difference
• Sustainability at our core
• Fair and honest workplace
• Innovative thinking is encouraged
• Competitive salaries
• Continuous learning and development
• Health and wellness care options
• Financial solutions for the future