Structures Airframe Analysis Engineer

Frontera Space; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Frontera Space is seeking a Structures Analysis Engineer to support airframe analysis and development for a hypersonic vehicle, using ANSYS and SolidWorks to model composite hardware from concept to test. The role includes ownership potential and cross-functional collaboration in Austin-area facilities.

The ideal candidate has experience with lightweight aerospace composites, composite mechanics, and FEA methods; familiarity with TPS interfaces and high-temperature structures is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Two years of experience in structural analysis, composite structures, aerospace applications, or structural test development.
• Working knowledge of ANSYS structural analysis; familiarity with SolidWorks geometry and engineering drawings.
• Understanding of statics, mechanics of materials, structural load paths, materials selection, and basic strength, stiffness, and stability considerations.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, develop appropriate analysis assumptions, and check results using engineering fundamentals.
• Clear technical communication, organized documentation, sound engineering judgment, and willingness to work directly with hardware and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the analysis and development of lightweight composite airframe structures for Frontera's air-breathing hypersonic vehicle, including skins, spars, ribs, frames, control surfaces, joints, attachments, and secondary structure.
• Develop ANSYS finite element models using SolidWorks geometry for aircraft hardware and other structural needs, including test stands, fabrication tooling, and support equipment.
• Perform preliminary sizing, engineering calculations, and ANSYS analyses with guidance appropriate to experience. Work with design engineers to evaluate load paths, strength, stiffness, stability, and joint performance and incorporate results into design iterations.
• Coordinate loads and structural interfaces with propulsion, thermal protection, landing systems, and other vehicle subsystems. Work with experienced engineers to address mechanical loads, thermal gradients, differential expansion, and local reinforcement needs.
• Work directly with manufacturing engineers, technicians, and suppliers to evaluate the structural effects of manufacturing deviations, assembly conditions, and nonconformances and develop proposed solutions.
• Support structural test planning, fixture analysis, instrumentation requirements, and test execution. Compare analytical predictions with test results, refine models, and support verification.
• Document analysis assumptions, methods, results, and limitations; maintain model configuration control, and present assigned work at technical reviews. Progressively assume ownership of components and assemblies, with the potential to grow into Responsible Engineer accountability as technical capability and judgment develop. Design updates, manufacturing, testing, and verification.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

SolidWorks

Composite modeling

Laminate definition

Bonded and mechanically fastened joints

Job description

Frontera Space is developing a next-generation air-breathing hypersonic vehicle and is seeking a Structures Analysis Engineer to support airframe analysis and development, along with other structural needs, including test stands, fabrication tooling, and support hardware.

This hands-on position uses ANSYS and SolidWorks to evaluate composite structural hardware from initial concepts through iterative design and analysis, manufacturing, integration, and testing. The engineer will grow into hardware ownership, with the potential to become a Responsible Engineer accountable for assigned aircraft hardware and assemblies.

The position will be filled based on experience, demonstrated capability, and independence, with assignments and technical guidance matched to the selected candidate.

The ideal candidate brings experience or project work in lightweight composite aerospace structures and a foundational understanding of composite mechanics, finite element analysis, structural stability, and joints. Familiarity with damage tolerance, fracture mechanics, and structural durability under combined mechanical and thermal loads is desirable, as is experience evaluating composite structures integrated with high-temperature systems or Thermal Protection Systems (TPS).

This is a full-time, exempt, in-person position reporting to the Structures Division Director in the Austin, Texas area.

What You Will Do

• Support the analysis and development of lightweight composite airframe structures for Frontera's air-breathing hypersonic vehicle, including skins, spars, ribs, frames, control surfaces, joints, attachments, and secondary structure.
• Develop ANSYS finite element models using SolidWorks geometry for aircraft hardware and other structural needs, including test stands, fabrication tooling, and support equipment.
• Perform preliminary sizing, engineering calculations, and ANSYS analyses with guidance appropriate to experience. Work with design engineers to evaluate load paths, strength, stiffness, stability, and joint performance and incorporate results into design iterations.
• Support material selection, laminate definition, and bonded and mechanically fastened joint evaluations. Apply established requirements, allowables, and analysis methods to calculate structural margins and guide hardware development.
• Coordinate loads and structural interfaces with propulsion, thermal protection, landing systems, and other vehicle subsystems. Work with experienced engineers to address mechanical loads, thermal gradients, differential expansion, and local reinforcement needs.
• Work directly with manufacturing engineers, technicians, and suppliers to evaluate the structural effects of manufacturing deviations, assembly conditions, and nonconformances and develop proposed solutions.
• Support structural test planning, fixture analysis, instrumentation requirements, and test execution. Compare analytical predictions with test results, refine models, and support verification.
• Document analysis assumptions, methods, results, and limitations; maintain model configuration control, and present assigned work at technical reviews. Progressively assume ownership of components and assemblies, with the potential to grow into Responsible Engineer accountability as technical capability and judgment develop. Design updates, manufacturing, testing, and verification.

What Success Looks Like

You deliver credible, traceable structural analyses and use manufacturing feedback and test results to improve predictions and guide development of assigned hardware.

You work effectively across disciplines and develop the judgment and independence to become a hardware owner, with the potential to grow into Responsible Engineer accountability.

• Full-time, exempt position.
• Primarily in-person in the Austin, Texas area.
• Reports to the Structures Division Director.
• Regular collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, integration, and test teams.
• Hands-on hardware development and occasional travel to suppliers or test locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Two years of experience in structural analysis, composite structures, aerospace applications, or structural test development.
• Relevant experience through academic projects, internships, research, or professional engineering work. Early-career candidates and engineers with experience delivering structural hardware are encouraged to apply.
• Working knowledge of ANSYS structural analysis; familiarity with SolidWorks geometry and engineering drawings through coursework, projects, or professional work.
• Understanding of statics, mechanics of materials, structural load paths, materials selection, and basic strength, stiffness, and stability considerations.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, develop appropriate analysis assumptions, and check results using engineering fundamentals.
• Clear technical communication, organized documentation, sound engineering judgment, and willingness to work directly with hardware and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Experience

• Four or more years of experience analyzing and developing composite structures for aerospace applications.
• Prior experience as a Responsible Engineer or hardware owner for aerospace components or assemblies.
• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited university.
• Demonstrated experience supporting structural hardware from requirements and detailed analysis through manufacturing, integration, and testing.
• Proficiency in ANSYS and working knowledge of SolidWorks, including composite modeling, analysis-driven design iterations, and traceable analysis documentation.
• Experience developing structural tests, evaluating results, and resolving manufacturing nonconformances or test anomalies.
• Experience with hypersonic vehicles, high-temperature structures, thermal protection interfaces, or combined mechanical and thermal loading.

Technical Skills

• ANSYS finite element modeling, SolidWorks geometry preparation, and model configuration control.
• Composite laminate, sandwich panel, and airframe structural analysis.
• Structural load-path evaluation, preliminary sizing, hand calculations, and margin assessment.
• Bonded and mechanically fastened joint analysis.
• Strength, stiffness, buckling, and composite failure evaluation.
• Thermal-structural analysis, differential expansion, and thermal protection interfaces.
• Model idealization, boundary conditions, mesh convergence, and evaluation of manufacturing effects.
• Structural test support, model correlation, and engineering requirements verification.

Working Conditions

This role operates in a fast-paced aerospace development environment spanning office engineering, manufacturing, integration, and test activities. The position may involve work around large composite structures, pressure systems, cryogenic systems, test equipment, manufacturing machinery, and flight hardware.

The successful candidate must be comfortable moving between analytical models, first-principles engineering calculations, CAD and drawings, physical hardware, and hands-on structural testing.

Certain positions supported by this role may involve work subject to U.S. export-control laws and regulations. Candidates for those roles may be required to meet applicable U.S. export-control eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Frontera Space is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.

Why Join Us?

Join Frontera Space at an early stage and help create a transformational aerospace platform designed to change how high-speed aircraft and access-to-space systems are developed, manufactured, and operated.

You will have the opportunity to influence the vehicle architecture, solve foundational technical challenges, and see your work move rapidly from analysis and design into hardware, testing, and flight. As an early team member, you will take on broad ownership, help establish the engineering culture, and directly shape both the product and the company.

Frontera Space offers meaningful equity participation and the chance to create lasting value while working on technology with the potential to redefine aerospace performance, affordability, and operational capability. This is an opportunity to do more than contribute to an established program - it is a chance to help build the vehicle, the team, and the company from the ground up.