Senior Structural Analyst – Spacecraft & Payloads

Rocket Lab Corp.; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 132,200 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan options

Paid vacation

Parental leave

Job summary

Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division seeks a Senior Structural Analyst I/II in Chantilly, VA to support advanced space payload programs. You will perform structural analyses, develop models, and validate designs for space hardware, working across design, test, and production teams.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in mechanical structural analysis, strong FEA skills (ANSYS, Femap/NASTRAN), and the ability to document technical results, with U.S. clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical structural analysis.
• Superior computer skills and experience with FEA tools (ANSYS, Femap/NASTRAN).
• Ability to write clear and comprehensive technical documentation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analysis of spacecraft components and assemblies using analytical methods and finite element analysis (FEA) tools
• Develop and validate analytical models to predict structural behavior under integration, test, launch, operational conditions
• Evaluate static, dynamic, thermal, and fatigue loads to ensure compliance with design requirements and safety margins
• Collaborate with design engineers to optimize structures for weight, manufacturability, and performance
• Support the development of test plans and interpret structural test data to validate analysis models
• Prepare technical reports, documentation, and presentations to communicate analysis results and recommendations
• Participate in design reviews and provide structural engineering input throughout the product development lifecycle
• Stay current with industry standards, materials, and analysis techniques
• Contribute to continuous improvement of analysis processes, tools, and best practices

Skills

5+ years of experience in mechanical

FEA experience (ANSYS)

Strong technical documentation

US security clearance eligibility

Superior computer skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline

Tools

ANSYS

Femap/NASTRAN

Job description

Rocket Lab’s Optical Systems division seeks a Senior Structural Analyst I/II in Chantilly, VA to support advanced space payload programs. You will perform structural analyses, develop models, and validate designs for space hardware, working across design, test, and production teams.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in mechanical structural analysis, strong FEA skills (ANSYS, Femap/NASTRAN), and the ability to document technical results, with U.S. clearance eligibility.