Spacecraft Structures Analyst (Opto-Mechanical Focus)

About the role

Muon seeks an experienced and passionate spacecraft structural analyst to join our team. The ideal candidate has unwavering attention to detail and a total ownership mindset to help the team develop robust hardware which meets requirements on time. Being an early-stage startup with a small team, breadth is extremely important and we expect this person to go far beyond running finite element analyses. Ability to dive into structural test data, dynamics, inform risk vs. cost decisions, supplier interaction and everything else associated with the full lifecycle of a spacecraft and optical payload development is critical. 

Leadership is also a key attribute we seek for this role.  Muon’s team will be growing rapidly over time and there will be opportunities for both direct-management and indirect (tutoring, mentoring). 

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities 

• Full lifecycle ownership of structures from quick-and-dirty early analysis for conceptual design to detailed finite element modeling to test support:
• Linear and nonlinear static analysis
• Modal, frequency, and random response analyses
• Dynamic environments definition
• Model correlation to test data
• Root causes analysis
• Coupled loads analysis
• Scoping test plans and writing test reports
• Find solutions in line with the risk posture of the company and programs, suggesting alternatives to traditional approaches and specifying the risks associated with those options 
• Make economically sound choices for the company while understanding the path to constellations. Find solutions balancing the need to quickly demonstrate capability with the need to deploy systems at scale (make vs buy trades, etc)
• Create quick concepts and models that can be used to discuss and spur inspiration on the team in early phases of programs.
• Establish engineering standards and tools for others on the team to help instill a culture of rigor and analysis in all aspects of mechanical design
• Define and drive mechanical/structural validation and test approach (establish factors of safety, identify no-test margins, design dynamics and static load tests, pre-test response predictions, coordinate with test venues and direct tests on-site, etc)
• Plan, execute and run post-test analysis and reduction on system-level and component vibration, shock and other mechanical tests

Qualifications 

• 8+ years (BS+8 / MS+6) in spacecraft or aerospace structural analysis
• B.S. or higher degree in an engineering field, preferably Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Exceptional attention to detail and critical thinking
• Extensive experience running detailed finite element analyses for aerospace systems (FEMAP, ANSYS)
• Experience designing and executing structural tests for spacecraft 
• Extensive experience as an individual contributor structural analyst
• Software skills in one or more of Python, Matlab, Julia, C, C++, Fortran or similar
• Excellent communication, presentation, coordination skills & curiosity
• Dedication to drawing conclusions on the most important factors and data
• Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new opportunities each week
• A desire to change the way the world understands and reacts to climate and environmental data
• Travel occasionally required to execute tests on-site with environmental test vendors

Nice-to-have Skills

• Familiarity with force limiting principles
• Previous analysis experience of opto-mechanical systems
• Mechanical design
• Spacecraft design
• Instrument design
• Electronic Instrumentation experience (DAQ, signal processing, etc)

Salary

The salary range for this role is $182,000 - $204,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process.