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Staff Structural Analyst

Motive Companies

Alameda, CA

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$157,000–$193,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Additive Manufacturing, Aerodynamics, Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace and Defense, Analysis Skills, Best Practices, C++ Programming Language, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), CATIA CAD, Civil Engineering, Composite Materials, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, Data Quality, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Finite Element Analysis, Fluid Mechanics and Dynamics, Heat Transfer, Industry Standards, Industry/Trade Analysis, Leadership, MATLAB, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Mentoring, Performance Engineering, Physics, Productivity Management, Programming Methodologies, Propulsion, Python Programming/Scripting Language, Reliability Analysis, Risk, Scripting (Scripting Languages), Seminars, SolidWorks, Standards Development, Systems Analysis, Systems Reliability, Technical Leadership, Test Data, Testing, Thermal Analysis, United States Department of Defense (DoD)
LOCATION
Alameda, CA
POSTED
30+ days ago
We are supporting a leading client in the aerospace and defense sector on their search for a Staff Structural Analyst. This organization develops advanced launch vehicle and spacecraft propulsion systems designed to improve connectivity and capability in low Earth orbit and beyond.

How You'll Fulfill Your Mission
The Senior Staff Structural Analyst is a senior technical leader responsible for the comprehensive execution, quality, and technical integrity of complex engineering analyses across rocket and spacecraft propulsion programs. This role sets the technical standard for analysis methodologies, leads the most challenging analytical investigations, and serves as the principal expert in domains such as structural analysis, thermal analysis, fluid dynamics, and propulsion performance. It is a hands-on, high-impact role emphasizing technical excellence, mentorship, and critical design review leadership.

Key Responsibilities
  • Technical Leadership and Execution: Act as the principal subject matter expert for high-fidelity engineering analyses (FEA, CFD, thermal, kinematic, multi-physics). Personally lead and execute the most critical analyses that drive primary design decisions for launch vehicle and spacecraft propulsion systems.
  • Methodology and Standards: Define, standardize, and institutionalize best practices, tools, and analysis methodologies across all programs. Ensure all analyses are rooted in first-principles physics and validated against test data.
  • Technical Oversight and Review: Provide final technical sign-off on key analysis reports. Lead internal design reviews (PDR, CDR) with a focus on analysis fidelity, margin, and readiness for critical decisions.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Design, Manufacturing, Test, and Safety teams to ensure models accurately reflect boundary conditions, material properties, and manufacturing tolerances.
  • Mentorship and Development: Serve as a technical mentor for analysis engineers. Build training materials and lead internal seminars to strengthen team capability.
  • Risk and Uncertainty Quantification: Establish advanced methods for quantifying uncertainty and margin in analytical models, supporting system-level reliability assessments


Why We Value You
  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum 8 years of hands-on experience in engineering analysis within aerospace, defense, or a high-performance engineering environment, with significant work on launch vehicles, spacecraft, or turbomachinery.
  • Deep expertise in at least two of the following:
    • Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for structural dynamics and nonlinear material behavior
    • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for reacting flows, propulsion, or high-speed aerodynamics
    • Thermal analysis and heat transfer in extreme environments
  • Expert proficiency in industry-standard analysis tools (NASTRAN/Patran, Abaqus, ANSYS, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM).
  • Ability to develop custom analysis scripts and tools in Python, MATLAB, or C++.
  • Familiarity with aerospace analysis standards and safety factors (NASA, DoD, FAA/AST).

Desired Multipliers
  • Experience analyzing systems made from advanced materials (composites, additive manufacturing, superalloys).
  • Proven test-correlation experience, including planning, execution, and correlation of analysis models with ground or flight test data.
  • Prior experience functioning as a senior, high-influence individual contributor.
  • Working knowledge of CAD systems such as NX, SolidWorks, or CATIA, specifically for analysis model generation.

Additional Notes
  • Due to the nature of the work, this role requires ITAR/EAR compliance; candidates must be U.S. Persons or eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Salary: $157,000-$193,000 DOE

About the Company

M

Motive Companies