Structures Design Engineer

Orbital Operations; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Orbital Operations in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Structures Design Engineer. In this role, you will be instrumental in defining and developing structural designs for space vehicles. You will collaborate across disciplines and also get the chance to work directly with hardware, overseeing both the design and integration processes.

Ideal candidates will have over 3 years of aerospace experience, proficiency in CAD and analysis software, and a solid background in hardware design and testing.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years experience in aerospace structures or fluids.
• Experience designing, building and testing hardware.
• Proficient with CAD and able to handle multi-physics problems.

Responsibilities

• Define structural and major fluids design for the rocket.
• Procure and manage hardware components.
• Ensure hardware is built, tested, and integrated.

Skills

Aerospace structures or fluids experience

CAD software proficiency

Hardware design and testing

Multi-physics analysis capability

Launch vehicle design familiarity

Tools

ANSYS

Job description

At Orbital Operations, we’re building the future of dynamic space maneuvering. Our mission is to enable rapid-response orbital capabilities, executing maneuvers without hesitation and without regret.

Our flagship technology, the Cryogenic Propulsion Management System (CPMS), is redefining what’s possible in space mobility. Designed for military and commercial spacecraft, CPMS delivers sustained, high-thrust maneuverability in geosynchronous and cislunar orbits. It integrates low-loss cryogenic storage, reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) thermal control, and turbomachinery-driven propulsion to make spacecraft more agile, resilient, and responsive.

Beyond defense, CPMS is poised to transform commercial orbital logistics. By powering next-generation orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), it can slash LEO-to-GEO transit times from six months to just eight hours - unlocking new possibilities for satellite servicing, deployment, and beyond.

Join us in building the infrastructure for a more maneuverable and mission-ready space domain.

Description

As a Structures Design Engineer on this space vehicle program, you’ll play a key technical role and contribute to shaping engineering standards for pressurized structures, thrust frames, and integrated fluid systems. You’ll serve as the Responsible Engineer for major vehicle subsystems - owning the hardware from initial requirements through design, development, analysis, fabrication, testing, vehicle integration, and ultimately flight. We’re a small, driven team, so you’ll need to collaborate closely across disciplines with both engineers and technicians to move quickly. You’ll also be hands-on with your designs, with opportunities to build and test your own hardware - so expect to roll up your sleeves and work shoulder-to-shoulder with the shop and integration teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years minimum experience in working in aerospace structures or fluids
• Designed, built and tested hardware
• Demonstrated proficiency with CAD software and analysis software (ANSYS preferred), should be able to talk to multiple examples of both
• Ability to determine appropriate level of work for a problem (from hand calcs to multi-physics finite element solutions) and execute the work accordingly
• Familiarity with launch vehicle design desired (cryogenic propellant familiarity preferred)

Responsibilities

• Define the structural and major fluids design of the rocket in coordination with owners of other portions of the vehicle
• Procure and manage all hardware for components and structures that you own
• Work to get your hardware built, tested and integrated onto the vehicle
• Help build design tools and guidelines that will accelerate development of components