Structures Engineer

General Galactic; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental

PTO

401k

Stock options

Job summary

General Galactic, based in Los Angeles, seeks a Structures Engineer to design and analyze spacecraft structures and mechanisms across our product suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought vehicles. You will own major vehicle structures, interfaces, and ground systems with high ownership and fast-paced execution.

The role requires fundamentals in statics, dynamics, materials science, and mechanical design, plus hands-on experience with flight hardware, CAD drawings, and simulations using Python,

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field.
• 2+ years designing, analyzing, building, or testing aerospace structures or related hardware.
• Strong fundamentals in statics, dynamics, materials science, and mechanical design.
• Hands-on experience designing flight or test hardware such as panels, mounts, or deployment systems.
• Ability to perform hand calculations, spreadsheets, Python, MATLAB, CAD, and FEA.

Responsibilities

• Own structural system design, component selection, and integration for spacecraft vehicles.
• Own structural analyses including load paths, modal analyses, coupled loads, shock, safety margins.
• Design and integrate mechatronic systems that support vehicle functions.
• Develop simulations, calculations, and models to guide design decisions.
• Create CAD models, drawings, interfaces, assembly and test procedures.

Skills

Statics

Dynamics

Materials science

Mechanical design

First-principles problem solving

Hands-on hardware design

Python

MATLAB

CAD

FEA

Education

BS in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

CAD software

FEA software

Job description

General Galactic designs, builds, and flies advanced spacecraft that redefine what’s possible beyond Earth. Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar space and build the railway to Mars – expanding access to high-energy orbits and enabling the next generation of missions along the way. Based in Los Angeles, California, we’re leveraging our paradigm-shifting water-based technology to reshape the space domain for good.

Job Description

As a Structures Engineer, you will work closely with a focused technical team to design and analyze critical spacecraft structures and mechanisms across our product suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought spacecraft vehicles, Genesis propulsion systems, and more. You will have extreme ownership over your work, move quickly, and operate with high agency. As we grow, there will be opportunities to expand your role with the company.

This is a hands‑on engineering role for someone with experience using fundamentals in mechanical design, statics, dynamics, materials science, and manufacturing to design and analyze hardware. You will have the opportunity to own major vehicle structures, interfaces, mechanisms, and ground systems. You should be comfortable moving between first‑principles analysis, detailed mechanical design, hardware build, test operations, and post‑test data review.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include:

• Own structural system design, component selection, and integration for spacecraft vehicles, propulsion systems, ground test hardware, and associated hardware
• Own structural analyses including load paths, modal analyses, coupled loads, shock, safety margins, and interfaces
• Design and integrate mechatronic systems that support key vehicle functions
• Develop and maintain simulations, calculations, and models to guide design decisions
• Create CAD models, drawings, interface definitions, assembly procedures, test procedures, and engineering documentation
• Plan, execute, and troubleshoot testing of structural systems.

Requirements

• BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field
• 2+ years of experience designing, analyzing, building, or testing aerospace structures, spacecraft hardware, mechanisms, or related hardware
• Strong fundamentals in statics, dynamics, materials science, and mechanical design
• First‑principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information
• Hands‑on experience designing flight or test hardware such as panels, mounts, interfaces, deployment systems, or structural assemblies
• Ability to perform practical engineering analysis spanning hand calculations, spreadsheets, Python, MATLAB, CAD, and FEA
• Strong mechanical design skills, including CAD, drawings, tolerancing, material selection, manufacturability, assembly, and testability
• Experience in a fast‑paced startup environment or similar, with high agency, strong ownership, and willingness to work hands‑on across disciplines

Your salary and incentives will be determined individually on the basis of the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Benefits include medical/vision/dental/PTO/401k/stock options, and more!

This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

General Galactic Technologies Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.