Senior Structures Engineer

Remote; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Stock options

Medical benefits (dental and vision)

Flex-Friday schedule

Unlimited PTO

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Venus Aerospace is seeking a Senior Structures Engineer to independently own structural design and analysis of major aerospace components. You will perform hand calculations and FEA, own CAD models (NX/CATIA), and define loads in coordination with GNC, propulsion, and avionics teams.

You will contribute to flight qualification plans, develop internal standards, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating across disciplines in a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience.
• Proficiency in CAD (NX/CATIA) and/or structural analysis (NASTRAN/ANSYS).
• Familiarity with fatigue analysis, hand calculations, and first-principles analysis.
• US Person eligible to work on ITAR-restricted programs.

Responsibilities

• Independently complete structural design and/or analysis of major aerospace components or assemblies.
• Perform hand calcs and FEA (NASTRAN/ANSYS), fatigue, buckling, and stability.
• Own CAD models in NX/CATIA, including large assemblies and release processes.
• Define loads with GNC, propulsion, avionics, and systems teams.
• Support structural test campaigns and flight qualification plans.
• Develop internal processes, standards, and documentation.
• Mentor developing engineers through technical guidance and reviews.
• Use TeamCenter, Dassault systems, Jira, and Confluence for configuration control.
• Contribute to collaborative team culture with strong interpersonal skills.

Skills

Strong communication & teamwork

Mentoring engineers

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX/CATIA

NASTRAN/ANSYS

TeamCenter

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Who We Are:

Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.

The Role: Senior Structures Engineer

Venus Aerospace is expanding its Structures department to support the development of advance aerospace vehicles. We are seeking a Senior Aerospace Structures Engineer to independently own structural design and/or analysis of components and assemblies while helping establish and grow our engineering team. This highly interdisciplinary role offers opportunities to contribute across the full hardware development lifecycle, from preliminary design and detailed engineering through manufacturing support, structural testing, and qualification. You will collaborate closely with other engineering teams, help establish internal processes and standards, and mentor developing engineers. As part of a growing startup, you should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities and willingness to take on a variety of technical challenges.

What You'll Get To Do

• Independently complete structural design and/or analysis of major aerospace components or assemblies

• Perform general strength assessments via hand calcs and FEA (NASTRAN/ANSYS), fatigue, buckling, and stability

• Own CAD models in NX/CATIA, including large assemblies and release processes

• Define loads in coordination with GNC, propulsion, avionics, and systems teams

• Support structural test campaigns and contribute to flight qualification plans

• Develop internal processes, standards, and documentation for the growing team

• Mentor developing engineers through technical guidance, design reviews, and knowledge sharing.

• Proficiency with major engineering software tools such as TeamCenter, Dassault systems, Jira, Confluence for configuration control and program collaboration

• Contribute to a collaborative, communicative team culture — strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills are essential

What You Have

• B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience

• Demonstrated proficiency in structural design with CAD (NX/CATIA), structural analysis (NASTRAN/ANSYS), or both

• Working familiarity with the complementary discipline and ability to collaborate effectively between design and analysis

• Demonstrated proficiency in hand calculations and first-principles analysis

• Familiarity with fatigue analysis methods and principles

• Strong communication, collaboration, and team-building skills

• U.S. Person eligible to work on ITAR-restricted programs

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience developing random vibration environments

• Experience designing for manufacturability and producibility

• Experience developing structural loads, including coupled loads analysis

• Working knowledge of material behavior, structural stability, joint analysis, damage tolerance, and vibration

• Experience creating or contributing to engineering standards and internal procedures

• Background in multi-stage rockets, aircraft, or spacecraft

• Flight qualification and structural test experience

• Familiarity with TeamCenter, Dassault systems software, Jira, and Confluence

Benefits

Venus Aerospace employee benefits include a 401(k) plan, stock options, and medical benefits, including dental and vision. We have a flex-Friday flexible schedule, unlimited PTO, and receive professional development opportunities.