Spacecraft Structures Engineer (Bus Structures and Packaging)

About the role

Rendezvous Robotics, a small team in Golden, Colorado, designs spacecraft that exceed the size limits of folded fairings by using electromagnetic self-assembling tiles. It is hiring a mid to senior level Spacecraft Structures Engineer to own the design, analysis and packaging of satellite bus and tile primary structure, including the hardware mounted to it, from concept through qualification, production and on-orbit operation. The role is full-time and on-site in the Denver metro area.

Key responsibilities

• Own spacecraft primary and secondary structure from concept through detailed design, qualification, production and on-orbit operation, including requirements definition, CAD modeling, tolerance stack-ups and design reviews.
• Design component mounting and local stiffening, including mounting patterns, fastener and insert schemes and the dynamic response of mounted hardware.
• Design conduction paths and thermal interfaces, including doublers, thermal interface materials, heat pipe integration and component placement.
• Design solar cell mechanical mounting, including substrate preparation, bonding, CTE compatibility and coverglass handling.
• Execute detailed structural layout and packaging, balancing structural, thermal, power and avionics requirements.
• Perform component and assembly level structural analysis, including modal, quasi-static and random vibration.
• Define harness routing and accommodation.
• Engage suppliers and fabricators, support fabrication, and produce and check detailed drawings with GD&T.
• Support prototype builds and structural verification and validation, including environmental and vibration testing.
• Support vibroacoustic and detailed thermal analysis and incorporate the results into the design.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a related field; advanced degree a plus.
• 4+ years of spacecraft or satellite structural and mechanical design experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing spaceflight hardware that has flown, and owning a flight structure or subsystem from concept through qualification test.
• Experience mounting components to primary structure and thermal-mechanical design, including conduction paths, doublers, heat pipes, thermal interface materials and CTE-driven failure modes.
• Strong first-principles approach to design, analysis and test, including hand calculations.
• Strong communication across engineering disciplines.

Required skills

• Structural finite element analysis (modal, quasi-static, random vibration)
• 3D CAD, detailed drawings, tolerance stack-ups and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
• Spaceflight materials, fabrication techniques and design for manufacturability
• Preferred: electronics packaging, honeycomb sandwich panels, thermal analysis tools, FEA tools such as Nastran/Femap, ANSYS or Abaqus, and Python or MATLAB

What we offer

• Salary of $110,000 to $140,000 for engineers and $140,000 to $170,000 for senior engineers, depending on level and experience.
• Possible long-term incentives in the form of stock options.
• Medical, vision and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability, life insurance and paid parental leave.
• 3 weeks of paid vacation and 10 or more paid holidays per year.