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Astra · 1 month ago

Sr Staff Structural Analyst

Alameda, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$187K/yr - $230K/yr

10+ years exp

Astra is on a mission to improve life on Earth from space by creating a healthier and more connected planet. The Sr Staff Structural Analyst is a senior technical leader responsible for executing complex engineering analyses across rocket and spacecraft propulsion programs, ensuring technical integrity and quality. This role involves defining best practices, providing oversight, and mentoring analysis engineers to enhance the team's technical competency.

AerospaceSatellite CommunicationSpace Travel

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Act as the principal subject matter expert and technical authority for all high-fidelity engineering analyses (FEA, CFD, thermal, kinematic, multi-physics). Personally lead and execute the most critical and complex analyses to drive primary design decisions for launch vehicle and spacecraft propulsion systems

Define, standardize, and institutionalize best practices, tools, and methodologies for engineering analysis across all programs. Ensure analyses are grounded in first principles physics and are appropriately validated against test data

Provide technical oversight and final sign-off on critical analysis reports and technical memorandums. Lead internal design review boards (PDR, CDR) specifically focused on analysis fidelity and margin assessment

Partner closely with Design, Manufacturing, Test, and Safety teams to ensure analysis models accurately reflect real-world boundary conditions, material properties, and manufacturing tolerances

Act as a technical mentor and guide for analysis engineers. Develop training materials and conduct internal seminars to raise the overall technical competency of the analysis team

Establish and drive the use of advanced methods for quantifying uncertainty and margin in analytical models, feeding into system-level reliability assessments

Qualification

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)Thermal AnalysisTechnical LeadershipAdvanced MaterialsSoftware ProficiencyCoding SkillsRisk & Uncertainty QuantificationGeometric ModelingTechnical Mentorship

Required

Master's degree or Ph.D. in Aeronautical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline

Minimum of 10 years of progressive, hands-on experience in engineering analysis within the aerospace, defense, or high-performance industry, with a significant focus on launch vehicles, spacecraft, or turbomachinery

Deep, demonstrated expertise in two or more of the following: Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for structural dynamics and non-linear material behavior; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for reacting flows, propulsion, or high-speed aerodynamics; Thermal Analysis and heat transfer in extreme environments

Expert proficiency in industry-standard analysis software packages (e.g., NASTRAN/Patran, Abaqus, ANSYS, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM)

Proven ability to develop custom analysis scripts and tools using languages such as Python, MATLAB, or C++

Familiarity with standard aerospace analysis requirements, standards, and safety factors (e.g., NASA, DoD, or FAA/AST guidelines)

This position requires compliance with U.S. Government space technology trade restrictions, specifically the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and additional regulations governing satellite, launch vehicle, missile, and other related technologies

Preferred

Experience analyzing systems utilizing advanced materials such as composites, additive manufacturing parts, and superalloys in cryogenic or high-temperature environments

Proven track record of planning, executing, and critically correlating analysis models with ground and flight test data

Prior experience functioning as a recognized Senior Engineer, in an Individual Contributor capacity

Working knowledge of modern CAD systems (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, CATIA) and best practices for analysis model generation