Structures Engineer El Segundo, CA

General Galactic; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision, Dental

401k

Stock options

PTO

Job summary

General Galactic designs, builds, and flies advanced spacecraft. We seek a Structures Engineer to design and analyze critical spacecraft structures and mechanisms across our product suite, owning major vehicle structures, interfaces, and ground systems.

You will move between first-principles analysis, detailed mechanical design, hardware build, test operations, and post-test data review in a fast-paced startup setting.

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.
• First-principles problem solving.
• Hands-on experience designing flight or test hardware such as panels, mounts, interfaces, deployment systems, or structural assemblies.
• Proficiency in hand calculations, spreadsheets, Python, MATLAB, CAD, and FEA.
• Experience in fast-paced startup environments with ownership and hands-on work across disciplines.
• US person status for export-control compliance.

Responsibilities

• Own structural system design, component selection, and integration for spacecraft vehicles, propulsion systems, ground test hardware, and related 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.

Skills

Statics

Dynamics

Materials science

Mechanical design

First-principles

Python

MATLAB

CAD

Drawings & tolerancing

Manufacturability & testability

FEA

Spacecraft hardware

Education

BS in mechanical engineering

BS in aerospace engineering

Tools

CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks)

FEA tools

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

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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 FEAStrong 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
• US person status required for export‑control compliance (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylum‑granted, or refugee status)

Benefits

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

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.