Senior Structure Analysis Engineer

 Senior Structure Analysis Engineer

Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week) 

Outpost is pioneering Earth return logistics for space. We're building vehicles that can return payloads from orbit safely and precisely—enabling faster space-based manufacturing, global delivery, and entirely new capabilities in the space economy. Our spacecraft is already backed by the U.S. government with multiple missions ahead. We’re a mission-focused team, building with urgency, grit, and care for the work we do and the people we do it with. 

The Role 

We’re looking for a Senior Structure Analysis Engineer to own structural and thermal analysis across flight hardware, from early design through flight readiness and production. This role sits at the center of engineering decision-making. You will be responsible for ensuring hardware is analytically sound, flight-worthy, and properly dispositioned - working closely with mechanical design, avionics, test, manufacturing, and systems teams. 

Responsibilities

• Own structural analysis of primary and secondary spacecraft structures, including but not limited to:
  • Modal analysis
  • Random vibration
  • Static and quasi-static loading
  • Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) and thermo-elastic loading
• Perform analysis on a wide range of hardware, including:
  • Flight structures and mechanisms
  • Avionics enclosures
  • PCB and electronics assemblies
  • Lead or support thermal analysis to evaluate operating margins, gradients, and coupled structural-thermal effects
• Serve as a technical authority for hardware disposition:
  • Assess flight and test hardware prior to production
  • Support nonconformance (NCR) resolution and root-cause analysis
  • Provide clear, defensible recommendations for accept-as-is, repair, or rework decisions
  • Partner closely with design and test teams to translate requirements into analysis models and to correlate analysis with test result                   
  • Contribute to analysis methodologies, best practices, and documentation that scale with the program. 

Qualifications 

• 8+ years of experience, with at least 5 years analyzing complex aerospace components.
• Bachelors required, Masters preferred in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Proficiency in ANSYS FEM software (NASTRAN, FEMAP, Abaqus and similar acceptable)
• Senior-level expertise in either structural or thermal analysis, with demonstrated proficiency in the alternate discipline.
• Strong experience applying analysis to real flight hardware - not just academic models.
• Deep understanding of aerospace loading environments, material behavior, and margin assessment.
• Experience supporting hardware through test, flight qualification, and production.
• Ability to work hands-on in a fast-moving, on-site hardware environment and communicate technical results clearly to cross-functional teams.
• Experience analyzing space rated avionics and structures is a plus.
• Is able to work independently with little guidance of more senior team members.
• Shows ability to develop new and relevant skills beyond core technical function.
• Is able to consistently identify and propose solutions to technical problems in their function. 

Compensation & Benefits

• 140,000 – 180,000, Salary may vary with experience
• Incentive Equity
• Annual Performance-Based Bonus
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• PTO
• 401k with Company match
• Subsidized daily catered lunch, snacks and coffee 

You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 ,or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State