Senior Staff Structural Analyst - Spacecraft Engineering

Entangled Future; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

IonQ seeks a Senior Staff Structural Analyst for Spacecraft Engineering in San Francisco, CA. You will lead structural analysis for spacecraft hardware, ensuring flight safety and reliability under launch environments.

Join Capella, IonQ's national security and space-focused team, collaborating with engineers across disciplines to deliver robust, flight-ready structures for next-gen missions. 5+ years in aerospace structural analysis required; bachelor's in a related field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of structural analysis experience in aerospace or spaceflight hardware.
• Ability to make technically sound decisions under schedule constraints.
• Self-motivated with ability to manage multiple projects.
• Attention to detail with commitment to engineering excellence and flight safety.
• Ability to communicate complex structural concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of mechanics of materials, structural dynamics, and aerospace structural design.
• Knowledge of launch vehicle environments, coupled loads analysis, vibration, shock, and acoustic loading.

Skills

Structural analysis

Aerospace structures

Communication of complex concepts

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline

Job description

Senior Staff Structural Analyst - Spacecraft Engineering at IonQ, San Francisco, California, United States. A senior-level full time position in the Capella team, listed under software engineering.

About IonQ: IonQ, Inc . [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting‑edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two‑qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance . Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before. About Capella Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next‑generation compute to deliver secure, mission‑ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthen global stability and security. Team members work side‑by‑side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum‑enabled technologies, and mission‑critical operations. Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and deliver meaningful impact for partners w

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of structural analysis experience supporting aerospace or spaceflight hardware.
• Ability to make technically sound decisions under schedule constraints.
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Attention to detail with a commitment to engineering excellence and flight safety.
• Ability to communicate complex structural concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of mechanics of materials, structural dynamics, and aerospace structural design.
• Knowledge of launch vehicle environments, coupled loads analysis, vibration, shock, and acoustic loading.

Nice to Have

• Experience supporting spacecraft, satellites, and launch vehicles.
• Experience delivering structural dynamic models to launch providers, such as SpaceX.
• Experience correlating analytical models with qualification and flight test data.
• Experience with additively manufactured structures.
• Knowledge of NASA, DoD, ESA, or commercial space structural verification requirements.
• Software Experience: