Senior Structural Analyst I/II (Space Systems)

Location: Chantilly, Virginia, United States; based at the Optical Systems site. The role supports occasional off-site travel and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. For U.S. office roles, candidates must meet applicable ITAR eligibility requirements, such as U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, refugee or asylum status, or eligibility for required government authorizations.

Salary: $132,200–$220,000 USD per year, plus potential stock or cash incentives and benefits.

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end aerospace company building rockets, spacecraft, payloads, and critical space subsystems for commercial, civil, and national security missions.

What you will do

• Perform structural analysis of spacecraft components and assemblies using analytical methods and finite element analysis tools.
• Develop and validate models for integration, testing, launch, and operational conditions.
• Evaluate static, dynamic, thermal, and fatigue loads against design requirements and safety margins.
• Collaborate with design engineers to optimize structures for weight, manufacturability, and performance.
• Develop test plans, interpret structural test data, and correlate analysis models.
• Prepare technical documentation, present results, participate in design reviews, and troubleshoot issues in the lab.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical structural analysis for Senior Structural Analyst I, or 8+ years for Senior Structural Analyst II.
• Experience with FEA tools such as ANSYS, Femap, or NASTRAN.
• Ability to write clear and comprehensive technical documentation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance and satisfy applicable U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience with mechanism design, materials engineering, environmental testing, SolidWorks, or NX.
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing and documentation process controls.
• Experience with optical, electro-optical, telescope, laser, or space systems.
• Experience designing optical mounts for demanding applications and environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on advanced spacecraft, payload, and infrared systems for challenging space and defense missions.
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary environment focused on teamwork, innovation, and delivery under tight deadlines.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan options, paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, and parental leave.
• Potential company stock or cash incentives, employee stock purchase opportunities, and additional discounts.