Senior Launch Vehicle Design Engineer I

Job description

***Please Note:**To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.* At **CesiumAstro**, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team. We are seeking a **Senior Launch Vehicle Design Engineer I** to our team. In this role, you will work across multidisciplinary engineering teams to solve complex technical challenges, drive system-level design trades, and ensure mission success through rigorous analysis, testing, and validation. ### JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - Lead the design, analysis, and development of primary and secondary launch vehicle structures, stage interfaces, and payload accommodations. - Perform static and transient structural and thermal analysis of LV components and systems to ensure mechanical integrity under operational loads. - Develop and execute test programs, analyze experimental data, and apply findings to optimize designs. - Prepare CAD models for FEA analysis and manufacturing. - Generate technical documentation, including reports, specifications, and contributions to PDRs and CDRs. - Collaborate across mechanical, aerospace, and controls engineering teams to deliver flight-ready systems. - Mentor junior and senior engineers to build technical understanding and professional development. - Participate in mission operations, anomaly investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives. ### JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. - 4+ years of industry experience in aerospace design and analysis. - Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, NX). - Strong foundation in systems engineering principles, requirements flowdown, and integration. - Expertise in Ansys tools: Mechanical, Explicit Dynamics (LS-Dyna), Linear and Nonlinear Eigenvalue Buckling, Harmonic Response, and Random Vibrations. - Hands-on experience with hardware development, testing, and qualification. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with close attention to detail. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills. ### PREFERRED EXPERIENCE - Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. - Prior experience with cryogenic systems, liquid rocket systems, and LV components. - Hands-on experience designing and improving LV hardware. - Knowledge of manufacturing and technological processes for aerospace parts. - Familiarity with aerospace safety and reliability practices. - Experience in a start-up or rapid development environment. - MATLAB for programming, data analysis, and optimization.