Structural Analysis Section Manager

Axiom Space; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom Space is seeking a Structural Analysis Section Manager to lead the Structural Analysis organization. You will oversee teams in Stress Analysis, Loads & Dynamics, managing resource planning and technical governance.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in structural analysis and experience leading engineering teams. This role requires excellent communication and leadership skills, and familiarity with industry-standard tools. A US citizenship is required, and the role may involve working evenings and weekends as necessary.

Qualifications

• 8+ years total engineering experience.
• Experience leading engineering teams.
• Significant experience in structural analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead personnel assignments across multiple programs.
• Develop and execute staffing strategies.
• Partner with program managers to manage technical and schedule risks.

Skills

Structural analysis

Team leadership

Resource planning

Communication

Education

BS in Mechanical, Aerospace, Structural, or related engineering discipline

MS degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering (preferred)

Tools

Nastran

FEMAP

Simcenter 3D

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Position Summary

The Structural Analysis Section Manager provides functional leadership for the Structural Analysis organization, including Stress Analysis, Loads & Dynamics, and Structural Verification/Test. The role is responsible for developing the people, processes, tools, standards, and technical capabilities needed to support current and future programs. It is accountable for workforce development, resource planning, technical governance, and the consistent delivery of high-quality analysis products that meet customer, quality, and configuration-management requirements.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead personnel assignments and priorities across multiple programs and technical disciplines within Stress Analysis, Loads & Dynamics, and Structural Verification/Test.
• Develop and execute section staffing strategies, including workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, retention, succession planning, cross-training, and employee development.
• Maintain labor forecasts, staffing plans, budget inputs, BOEs, ROMs, and resource estimates to ensure programs have adequate structural analysis support to meet cost, schedule, technical quality, and customer commitments.
• Partner with program managers, chief engineers, and functional leaders to balance priorities, resolve resource conflicts, and manage technical and schedule risks.
• Serve as the escalation point for technical issues, staffing conflicts, quality concerns, and cross-disciplinary coordination challenges.
• Track and communicate section performance against budget, schedule, quality, deliverable completion, review closure, and customer commitments.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce section workflows, review gates, standards, templates, analysis checklists, reporting expectations, and configuration-control practices to ensure technical rigor and consistency.
• Establish and monitor metrics related to quality, productivity, staffing utilization, review effectiveness, and process maturity, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct quality audits, support customer reviews, design reviews, readiness reviews, and define corrective-action activities related to structural analysis products and processes.
• Develop and maintain section technical capabilities, methods, software tools, automation solutions, and knowledge-management practices (e.g., lessons learned) to ensure long-term competitiveness and program success.
• Conduct employee one-on-ones, performance evaluations, career development discussions, recognition, counseling, and promotion planning, while mentoring Stress, Loads & Dynamics, and Test leads.
• Review and approve employee timecards, overtime, travel, training, and resource requests.
• Communicate section performance, staffing risks, technical concerns, and improvement plans to upper management.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Aerospace, Structural, or related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years total engineering experience.
• Significant experience in structural analysis, loads and dynamics, structural testing and verification, and mechanical analysis.
• 3+ years experience leading engineering teams, technical organizations, or functional groups, including personnel development, resource planning, and multi-disciplinary coordination.
• Experience with industry-standard structural analysis tools and workflows, including finite element modeling, dynamics analysis, test correlation, and automation using software such as Nastran, FEMAP, Simcenter 3D, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent tools.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staffing plans, labor forecasts, budgets, schedules, priorities, and multi-program resource demands.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical issues and recommendations effectively to engineering leadership, program management, customers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience developing or enforcing engineering workflows, quality procedures, technical standards, review gates, and deliverable expectations.
• Strong communication, organization, mentoring, customer interface, and leadership skills.

Preferred:

• MS degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering.
• PMP certification.
• Experience supporting human spaceflight programs and familiarity with NASA standards and requirements.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary structural analysis organizations.
• Experience with configuration management and engineering quality systems.

Core Skills

• Passion for space and the mission.
• Entrepreneurial, growth mindset.
• High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally.
• Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster.

Core Competencies

• Ownership and Accountability.
• Pride of Delivery.
• Quality and Technical Rigor.

Work Environment

Generally an office environment, but may involve inside or outside work depending on the task. Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation. Proof of U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency is required. May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.

Requirements

• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency is a requirement.
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.

Physical Requirements

Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time). May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time).

Equipment and Machines

Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)

Equal Opportunity Employer

Axiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.