Structures Design Engineer
Lux Aeterna, Denver, CO, United States
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Structures Engineer to take end-to-end ownership of spacecraft hardware — not just its design, but its performance in flight and its readiness to fly again.
This role exists to produce real vehicles that survive launch, orbit, return, refurbishment, and re‑flight. You are responsible for making the hardware work in the real world, under real constraints, on real schedules. Analysis, documentation, and drawings exist to support that goal — not replace it.
You will deliver lightweight, reusable spacecraft hardware capable of repeated missions at high cadence. The job spans structures, mechanisms, tooling, fixtures, integration hardware, and whatever else is required to make the vehicle succeed as a system. This role requires end-to-end hardware ownership of your components or subsystem.
This is a unique opportunity to:
Own spacecraft hardware from first sketch to post‑flight inspection and re‑launch
Design flight structures, mechanisms, fixtures, and ground hardware required to operate a reusable spacecraft
Debug real failures and close the loop through redesign and iteration
Participate directly in build, test, flight operations, and refurbishment
Work in a rapid hardware development environment where decisions quickly become flight articles
The Role
You are the responsible engineer for hardware that flies. When the vehicle is on the pad, in space, or back in the build area, you own how your hardware behaves.
Responsibilities include:
Designing and delivering primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, and supporting hardware required for flight and refurbishment
Managing trade studies, developing supplier strategy, and ownership of design/build/deploy schedule, milestones, and blockers.
Owning hardware through manufacturing, assembly, integration, test, flight, recovery, inspection, and re‑flight
Creating tooling, fixtures, handling equipment, and GSE necessary to build and operate the spacecraft
Defining load paths, margins, and structural behavior using analysis as a decision tool, not an end product
Leading build and integration activities and resolving real‑time issues
Defining and executing qualification and acceptance testing
Investigating anomalies and implementing corrective design changes
Managing interfaces across the vehicle and ensuring mission‑level compatibility
Working directly with launch providers and internal teams to certify flight readiness
Iterating hardware based on test and flight data to improve reliability and turnaround time
Required Qualifications
BS in Mechanical or Structural Engineering
5-8 years developing flight or flight‑like hardware with direct responsibility for performance
Hands‑on experience building, integrating, and troubleshooting mechanical systems
Demonstrated ownership of hardware through test or flight operations
Strong intuition for structural behavior and mechanical systems under real loading conditions
Working FEA proficiency to support engineering judgement (FEMAP or ANSYS)
Strong GD&T capability (ASME Y14.5)
Proficiency in 3D CAD (Siemens NX preferred)
Experience selecting materials and manufacturing processes for high‑performance hardware
Ability to operate effectively in fast build‑test‑iterate environments
Desired Experience
Experience with reusable flight systems or hardware refurbishment
Mechanisms, deployment systems, or moving flight hardware
Designing tooling and production fixtures
Composite structures and repair
Reentry, thermal, or fatigue‑driven structural environments
SMC‑S‑016 and/or NASA GEVS environments
Early stage hardware startup experience
We are based in Denver, CO and believe in the power of in‑person collaboration. We are onsite 5 days/week by default, but flexible when life requires it.
Certain roles may involve access to export‑controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export‑control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.
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We are seeking a Structures Engineer to take end-to-end ownership of spacecraft hardware — not just its design, but its performance in flight and its readiness to fly again.
This role exists to produce real vehicles that survive launch, orbit, return, refurbishment, and re‑flight. You are responsible for making the hardware work in the real world, under real constraints, on real schedules. Analysis, documentation, and drawings exist to support that goal — not replace it.
You will deliver lightweight, reusable spacecraft hardware capable of repeated missions at high cadence. The job spans structures, mechanisms, tooling, fixtures, integration hardware, and whatever else is required to make the vehicle succeed as a system. This role requires end-to-end hardware ownership of your components or subsystem.
This is a unique opportunity to:
Own spacecraft hardware from first sketch to post‑flight inspection and re‑launch
Design flight structures, mechanisms, fixtures, and ground hardware required to operate a reusable spacecraft
Debug real failures and close the loop through redesign and iteration
Participate directly in build, test, flight operations, and refurbishment
Work in a rapid hardware development environment where decisions quickly become flight articles
The Role
You are the responsible engineer for hardware that flies. When the vehicle is on the pad, in space, or back in the build area, you own how your hardware behaves.
Responsibilities include:
Designing and delivering primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, and supporting hardware required for flight and refurbishment
Managing trade studies, developing supplier strategy, and ownership of design/build/deploy schedule, milestones, and blockers.
Owning hardware through manufacturing, assembly, integration, test, flight, recovery, inspection, and re‑flight
Creating tooling, fixtures, handling equipment, and GSE necessary to build and operate the spacecraft
Defining load paths, margins, and structural behavior using analysis as a decision tool, not an end product
Leading build and integration activities and resolving real‑time issues
Defining and executing qualification and acceptance testing
Investigating anomalies and implementing corrective design changes
Managing interfaces across the vehicle and ensuring mission‑level compatibility
Working directly with launch providers and internal teams to certify flight readiness
Iterating hardware based on test and flight data to improve reliability and turnaround time
Required Qualifications
BS in Mechanical or Structural Engineering
5-8 years developing flight or flight‑like hardware with direct responsibility for performance
Hands‑on experience building, integrating, and troubleshooting mechanical systems
Demonstrated ownership of hardware through test or flight operations
Strong intuition for structural behavior and mechanical systems under real loading conditions
Working FEA proficiency to support engineering judgement (FEMAP or ANSYS)
Strong GD&T capability (ASME Y14.5)
Proficiency in 3D CAD (Siemens NX preferred)
Experience selecting materials and manufacturing processes for high‑performance hardware
Ability to operate effectively in fast build‑test‑iterate environments
Desired Experience
Experience with reusable flight systems or hardware refurbishment
Mechanisms, deployment systems, or moving flight hardware
Designing tooling and production fixtures
Composite structures and repair
Reentry, thermal, or fatigue‑driven structural environments
SMC‑S‑016 and/or NASA GEVS environments
Early stage hardware startup experience
We are based in Denver, CO and believe in the power of in‑person collaboration. We are onsite 5 days/week by default, but flexible when life requires it.
Certain roles may involve access to export‑controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export‑control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.
#J-18808-Ljbffr