Sr. Structures Engineer

Job description

Who We Are Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion. The role: Senior Structures Engineer We are seeking a Senior Structures Engineer to lead structural development for aerospace vehicles from a clean sheet. This is a highly interdisciplinary role requiring a strong technical foundation and excellent communication skills. You will help define internal standards and tools, work cross-functionally with other departments, and play a key role in building the structures team and its processes. This position is on-site in Houston, TX and may require travel to support operation, vendors, or other activities. You will be working in a developing start-up environment requiring flexibility and a willingness to take on a wide variety of tasks. ### What You'll Get To Do - Complete structural design and analysis across a variety of aerospace vehicle types and related hardware - Perform fatigue, buckling, stability, and general strength assessments via hand calcs and FEA (ANSYS preferred) - Own CAD models in NX and/or CATIA, including large assemblies and release processes - Define loads in coordination with GNC, propulsion, avionics, and systems teams - Support structural test campaigns and contribute to flight qualification plans - Develop internal processes, standards, and documentation for the growing team - Help team members and others at Venus learn and grow - Use TeamCenter, Dassault systems software, Jira, and Confluence for configuration control and program collaboration - Contribute to a collaborative, communicative team culture — strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills are essential ### What You Have - B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering - 5+ years of structural engineering experience - 3+ years of FEA experience (ANSYS preferred) - 3+ years of CAD experience (NX preferred), including large assembly management - Demonstrated proficiency in hand calculations and first-principles analysis - Familiarity with fatigue analysis methods and principles - Strong communication, collaboration, and team-building skills - U.S. Person eligible to work on ITAR-restricted programs ### What Will Set You Apart - Experience with random vibration (derivation from flight data or specifications), vibration testing - Experience with design for manufacturing and producibility - Loads development including coupled loads analysis - Working knowledge of materials, buckling, structural joints, damage tolerance, and vibration - Experience creating or contributing to engineering standards and internal procedures - Background in multi-stage rockets, aircraft, or spacecraft - Flight qualification and structural test experience - Familiarity with TeamCenter, Dassault systems software, Jira, and Confluence