Senior Composite Engineer

Job Title: Senior Composite Engineer

Company: The Exploration Company

Job Summary:

The Exploration Company is seeking an experienced Senior Composite Engineer to lead the design, development, verification, and qualification of primary and secondary composite structures for space applications. The role focuses on structural integrity, composite materials, engineering analysis, manufacturing support, and the delivery of reliable, flight-ready spacecraft hardware.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead the design, development, verification, and qualification of composite structures, balancing structural performance, weight, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.

- Define structural requirements and technical specifications covering materials, laminate architectures, manufacturing processes, inspections, testing, and qualification.

- Perform structural analysis and finite element modelling for static, buckling, dynamic, thermo-mechanical, and joint applications.

- Assess structural failure modes, damage tolerance, and technical risks, implementing appropriate mitigation measures throughout the hardware lifecycle.

- Support supplier management by reviewing engineering analyses, manufacturing documentation, inspection reports, test results, and non-conformance dispositions.

- Investigate technical anomalies, conduct root cause analyses, and implement corrective actions to ensure structural integrity and quality.

- Collaborate with systems engineering, manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT), quality, procurement, and program teams.

- Present engineering recommendations and structural justifications during technical reviews and decision-making meetings.

- Support manufacturing, structural testing, analysis-to-test correlation, and qualification activities to deliver flightworthy hardware.

Required Qualifications:

- Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.

- At least 8 years of experience in structural analysis and mechanical justification of aerospace, space, or other high-performance composite structures.

- Proven experience in composite structural design, development, verification, and qualification.

- Strong knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes, structural mechanics, and damage tolerance.

- Proficiency in finite element analysis (FEA), including static, buckling, dynamic, thermo-mechanical, and joint analyses.

- Experience with Altair software and Nastran preferred.

- Understanding of composite design allowables, materials and process qualification, structural testing, and analysis-to-test correlation.

- Experience with bolted and bonded joints, load introduction, and composite structural interfaces.

- Siemens NX CAD experience is an advantage.

Skills and Abilities:

- Strong analytical thinking, engineering judgment, and problem-solving skills.

- Ability to own complex technical challenges and drive solutions to completion.

- Proactive and pragmatic approach to balancing technical requirements, schedules, and business objectives.

- Excellent communication and collaboration skills when working with multidisciplinary teams and external suppliers.

- Ability to identify risks, challenge assumptions, and make data-driven decisions.

- Comfortable working across design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, and qualification activities.

- Commitment to integrity, excellence, teamwork, innovation, and reliable spacecraft development.

Work Environment and Benefits:

The Exploration Company offers an agile, collaborative, and transparent working environment focused on advancing space exploration. Employees are encouraged to take ownership, solve complex engineering challenges, and contribute to the development of reliable spacecraft. Relocation assistance, including visa sponsorship where applicable, is available for candidates willing to relocate.

Equal Opportunity:

The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment decisions are made without discrimination based on protected characteristics.