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Lead Engineer for Structures & Mechanisms

AetherfluxSeattle, WANew
On-site Full-time

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Experience Level

Manager

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities:Lead the development of the primary airframe, including propellant tanks, interstages, and thrust structures from concept to flight. Design and implement landing legs and deployment systems to support repeated flight and landing cycles. Create aerodynamic control surfaces and associated actuation/structural systems. Oversee stage separation systems, focusing on mechanisms, interfaces, and dynamic performance. Drive structural design to achieve minimal mass while fulfilling strength, stiffness, fatigue, and thermal requirements. Ensure all hardware can withstand combined ascent, entry, landing, and reuse environments. Conduct structural analysis (FEA, hand calculations) and validate with test and flight data. Define and execute structural test campaigns at component, subscale, and full-scale levels. Collaborate closely with manufacturing to iterate designs and resolve any build issues promptly. Identify and address potential failure modes through rapid design-test-learn cycles. Support flight operations, investigate anomalies, and contribute to post-flight inspection and refurbishment improvements. Basic Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a related engineering field.8+ years of experience in structural design, analysis, or mechanisms for flight hardware or high-performance systems. Proficient in load paths, structural sizing, and material selection. Hands-on experience in transitioning hardware from design to production.

About the job

Aetherflux builds infrastructure for space-based solar energy, working on technology that supports sustainable and continuous energy delivery from orbit to Earth.

Role overview

The Lead Engineer for Structures & Mechanisms oversees the design, development, and performance of the vehicle’s primary structural and mechanical systems. This position covers key hardware components such as:

  • Airframe
  • Propellant tanks
  • Thrust structure
  • Landing systems
  • Aerodynamic surfaces
  • Stage separation hardware

The role involves making sure these systems can handle the demands of flight, landing, and rapid reuse. Balancing low mass with high reliability is a central focus.

Location

This position is based in Seattle, WA.

About Aetherflux

Aetherflux is pioneering solutions for the global energy crisis through innovative infrastructure for space-based solar energy. Join our dedicated team as we redefine how energy is generated, delivered, and utilized across the globe.

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