Senior Structures Engineer

Karmanplus; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Karman+ is seeking a Senior Structures Engineer to drive the development of mass-efficient vehicle primary and secondary structures for next-generation spacecraft. The role combines hands-on design, analysis, build, and testing across mission phases with emphasis on reliability during launch and in-space operations.

You will collaborate with propulsion, thermal, and layout teams, perform FEA and modal analyses, manage vendor interactions, and ensure designs meet regulatory and quality standards

Qualifications

• Equivalent of 5+ years of structural engineering experience in aerospace or spacecraft structures.
• Expertise in FEA, modal analysis, load analysis, vibration testing.

Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end responsibility of structural design for spacecraft structures.
• Conduct and review detailed structural analyses, including modal analysis, FEA, load calcs, and dynamic testing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize performance and layout.
• Engage with vendors to source materials and ensure mission requirements and schedules are met.

Skills

5+ years structural engineering

FEA

Modal analysis

Spacecraft structures

Thermal and propulsion integration

Lab testing

Tools

ANSYS

MATLAB

CATIA

Job description

At Karman+ we are building vehicles to go beyond Earth orbit. As a Senior Structures Engineer, your role will be to drive development of mass efficient vehicle primary and secondary vehicle structures. You will work closely with an adept team of engineers to build a new generation of spacecraft, with considerations for solar electric propulsion, thermal control, and component layout.

Key Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end responsibility of structural design.
• Conduct and review detailed structural analyses, including modal analysis, finite element analysis (\"FEA\"), load calcs, and dynamic testing to validate design integrity under launch loads, thermal stresses, and in-space conditions.
• Work closely with other engineering teams to optimize vehicle performance and layout.
• Collaborate with vendors to source and procure materials and components for the structural subsystem, ensuring that all parts meet mission specifications and delivery schedules.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with the structural subsystem, including potential failure modes and material limitations.
• Ensure that all designs adhere to regulatory, operational, and quality standards, serving as the technical checkpoint for your subsystem during design reviews and integration milestones.

What You Bring

• Equivalent of 5+ years of experience in structural engineering, with a hands‑on approach to design, analysis, build, and testing of spacecraft or aerospace structures.
• Strong expertise in structural design, \"FEA\", material science, modal analysis, load analysis, and vibration testing, particularly for space‑rated or high‑reliability structures.
• Problem‑solving mindset— going from theory to hardware by working in a lab to define testing and verify analysis to ensure structural integrity across mission phases.
• An understanding of thermal and propulsion system design considerations, and component layout best practices.
• A desire to keep design cycles tight, by following a build and break philosophy.
• Motivation to challenge the status quo, and be an integral part of an elite team.