Structural Systems Engineer II

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 84,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision plans

Paid time off

Parental leave and retirement plans

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located in Pasadena, California, seeks a Structural Systems Engineer to lead design and analysis of flight mechanical and robotic structures. You will perform structural integrity assessments, build FE models, and support tests and reviews for spacecraft hardware and ground systems.

The role requires a mechanical engineering degree with flight-structures experience, proficiency in MSC.Nastran/NX-Nastran, and strong communication and collaboration skills to work across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical engineering or related discipline with relevant flight-structure experience.
• Experience in structural analysis and verification of flight structures and assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural design and analysis to ensure structural integrity of subsystem and system-level hardware and support structures.
• Perform structural analysis using classical methods and finite element analysis for flight projects and technology tasks.
• Conduct detailed stress/structural analysis, dynamic analysis, and pre-test analyses.
• Build finite element models from scratch and identify critical areas and efficient analysis approaches.
• Contribute to design of mechanical assemblies from requirements to drawings with feedback on concerns.
• Support and present analysis results at team and technical reviews and audits.
• Support static and dynamic tests and develop test reports.

Skills

Structural analysis

Finite element methods

Team collaboration

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related 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.

In this role, you will:

• Perform structural design and analysis to ensure the structural integrity of subsystem and system-level hardware and the associated support structures.
• Perform structural analysis utilizing classical solutions and finite element analysis (FEA) method for flight projects and/or technology tasks and/or proposal developments.
• Perform detailed stress/structural analysis, dynamic analysis, and pre-test analysis.
• 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 including suggestions and feedback on areas of concern based on analysis, mechanical intuition, and engineering judgement.
• 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 3 years of related experience; or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 1 year related experience or PhD in similar disciplines.
• Experience and knowledge in 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.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in completing structural analysis of complex and unique flight mechanical systems and detailed analysis of its components.
• Ability to present structural margins & analyses to project management and provide design recommendations.
• Ability to develop and conduct structural verification test programs for space flight hardware.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical, mechanism, and/or structural anomalies and failures.
• Ability to develop innovative design solutions to meet design requirements and resolve technical challenges.
• 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.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work‑life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California. $114,608 - $139,880

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 by Federal, state or local law. In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. EEO is the Law. EEO is the Law Supplement Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. 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.

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.