Structural Systems Engineer I

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 97,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Vision

Wellbeing

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Learning

Rideshare

Childcare

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Many more

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks a Structural Systems Engineer to perform structural design and analysis for flight hardware and subsystems. You will partner with other engineers to develop FE models, validate results, and support testing across a range of mechanical systems.

The role requires a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or related field with at least 1 year of experience (or a Master's).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 1 year of related experience; Master’s accepted.
• GPA minimum 3.0; hands-on internship counts toward experience.
• Experience with structural analysis for flight hardware is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform moderately complex structural design and analysis for subsystems and hardware.
• Use classical methods and FEA to analyze flight projects and proposals.
• Conduct detailed stress and dynamic analyses and pre-test analyses.
• Build finite element models from scratch and use hand calculations as needed.
• Contribute to mechanical assembly design from requirements to drawings.
• Present results at team and technical reviews and support testing.
• Work independently and with teams across multiple disciplines.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline

Tools

MSC.Nastran

NX-Nastran

FEMAP

Abaqus

MSC.ADAMS

LS-DYNA

Job description

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That's our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission your opportunity is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you're driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you're ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence. This unique opportunity is part of the Mechanical and Control Systems Division (35), which creates advanced mechanical, robotics, thermal, propulsion, onboard GNC, and electronic packaging systems. Division 35 develops hardware and systems from early architecture through design, fabrication, subsystem, and system-level integration and test. You will be working as a Structural Systems Engineer within the Mechanical Engineering, Integration, and Test Section, which leads the design, analysis, development, integration, and test of flight mechanical and robotic systems for spacecraft, payloads, and ground-based systems.

Role Overview

In this role, you will:

• Perform moderately complex structural design and analysis to ensure the structural integrity of subsystem and system-level hardware and the associated support structures.
• Partner with other engineers to perform structural analysis utilizing classical solutions and finite element analysis (FEA) method for flight projects and/or technology tasks and/or proposal developments.
• Partner with other engineers to perform detailed stress/structural analysis, dynamic analysis, and pre-test analysis.
• Partner with other engineers to build finite element models from scratch, using hand calculations when appropriate, to determine critical areas in structure and determine efficient and adequate approaches for analysis independently.
• Contribute to the design process of mechanical assemblies from engineering requirements to engineering drawings.
• Support and present analysis results at team, line management, and technical reviews.
• Support and conduct static and dynamic tests and develop test reports.
• Perform tasks under the direction of the group supervisor, project management, and project technical leads, work independently and within a team environment, and collaborate on tasks that span a spectrum of disciplines.

Required Skills

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 1 year of related experience; or Master's degree in similar subject areas. Relevant internship or other hands-on technical experience may be counted toward the experience requirement. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA

Desired Skills

Knowledge and experience with structural engineering, analysis, and verification of flight structures (spacecraft or instruments), composite structures, mechanisms, and/or opto-mechanical assemblies. Experience in MSC.Nastran, NX-Nastran, FEMAP, Abaqus, MSC.ADAMS or LS-DYNA. General knowledge of industry and/or academic practices and standards related to structural mechanics, finite element analysis, and structural verification testing. Knowledge of Standards for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Y14.5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent collaboration skills and ability to work across subject areas and organizations.

Benefits & Perks

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellbeing
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Learning
• Rideshare
• Childcare
• Flexible schedule
• Parental leave
• Many more

Salary Range

Typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California: $97,032 - $117,416

Equal Opportunity & Diversity

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected under federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. EEO is the Law.

Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S. or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

The designated countries list is available here.

Company History

Formed in 1936, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). JPL joined NASA as an FFRDC when the agency was founded in 1958. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America's first Earth-orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to the solar system. Today JPL continues its world-leading innovation, implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space-based astronomy and technology development while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. Above all, we are explorers. At JPL we promote collaboration, innovation, integrity, and excellence in distinct academic areas. We turn ideas for science investigation into the reality of groundbreaking space missions, partnering with our strategic business teams to guide JPL into the future.