Senior Spacecraft Structural Analysis Lead

Viasat; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 142,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Viasat is seeking a highly skilled Staff Structural Analysis Engineer to join our space infrastructure team. You will lead structural analysis and verification to ensure hardware withstands launch, deployment, and operational environments, providing mentorship across the engineering staff.

You will drive design reviews, collaborate with multiple engineering disciplines, and guide programs from concept to on-orbit support, delivering innovative analysis solutions for challenging spaceflight

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or related).
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience with spaceflight hardware.
• Experience leading structural analysis and subsystem development for spacecraft.
• Understanding of space applications structural requirements (dynamic, shock, environmental).
• Experience with engineering analysis tools (ANSYS, Nastran, Simcenter).
• Experience with CAD tools (Creo, SolidWorks, NX).
• Experience with environmental qualification and acceptance testing.
• Ability to solve complex technical problems with limited direction.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural analysis efforts for satellite structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, and deployable systems.
• Perform and direct structural, vibration, dynamic, shock, and environmental analyses for flight hardware.
• Define problems, evaluate trade studies, and develop engineering solutions balancing performance, schedule, cost, and risk.
• Own structural verification from concept through qualification, production, integration, and on-orbit support.
• Develop requirements, specifications, procedures, and qualification plans for structural performance.
• Lead hardware structural testing, environmental testing, and anomaly resolution activities.
• Drive design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and provide technical recommendations to leadership.
• Collaborate with systems, thermal, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, reliability, and supply chain teams.

Skills

Structural analysis

Spacecraft hardware

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

ANSYS

Nastran

Simcenter

Creo

SolidWorks

NX

Job description

Viasat is seeking a highly skilled Staff Structural Analysis Engineer to join our space infrastructure team. You will lead structural analysis and verification to ensure hardware withstands launch, deployment, and operational environments, providing mentorship across the engineering staff.

You will drive design reviews, collaborate with multiple engineering disciplines, and guide programs from concept to on-orbit support, delivering innovative analysis solutions for challenging spaceflight