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Salary: USD 105,000 - 155,000 / annual
Terran Orbital, a leading satellite manufacturer serving aerospace and defense industries, is seeking a Senior Structural Analysis Engineer to join the structural engineering team in Irvine, CA. Reporting to the Structural Engineering Manager, you will support spacecraft structural systems and subsystem design across the full lifecycle: concept development, design reviews, prototype testing, manufacturing, and verification testing.
You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to identify structural design constraints and recommend mitigation strategies. Key responsibilities include performing finite element analyses (static, dynamic, buckling, thermal, linear, nonlinear, and transient), supporting mechanical test projects, developing test plans and procedures, and conducting structural vibration testing for spacecraft modules. You will design and analyze test fixtures, interpret test data in real time, interface with vendors and test facilities, and contribute to process improvements in structural analysis efficiency. You will also perform peer reviews of technical analysis materials, participate in vehicle arrangement discussions, and support Engineering Review Board presentations.
This role offers hands-on involvement in satellite design and testing, working with advanced aerospace systems and contributing to national defense and commercial missions. You will gain exposure to production environments, launch vehicle integration, and cutting-edge structural analysis methodologies.
**Requirements:**
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- Minimum 5 years of direct industry experience performing structural analyses using numerical and analytical techniques in space, aerospace, or similar sectors
- Experience with Nastran and Patran
- Experience with vibration and shock testing of aerospace or space-grade equipment; familiarity with military or NASA standards
- Hands-on experience with test planning and execution
- Understanding of launch vehicle loads and their implications for spacecraft systems
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software
- Strong communication and presentation skills for customer and vendor interfaces
- Highly process-driven with ability to contribute to improving structural analysis and testing processes
- U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance
**Preferred Qualifications:**
- Master of Science degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with focus in solid mechanics
- Experience with vibration (random, sine, SRS) and static load testing, including data acquisition and processing
- Experience in a production environment within aerospace or space industry
- Experience with MSC tools (MSC Apex, Nastran, Patran, Adams, Marc)
- Knowledge of HALT or HASS methodologies
- Familiarity with operating a Data Physics LE-2016 shaker table
- Understanding of applicable MIL and NASA test standards
