Senior Structures Engineer

Who We Are:
Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion.

 

The Role: Senior Structures Engineer

Venus Aerospace is expanding its Structures department to support the development of advance aerospace vehicles. We are seeking a Senior Aerospace Structures Engineer to independently own structural design and/or analysis of components and assemblies while helping establish and grow our engineering team. This highly interdisciplinary role offers opportunities to contribute across the full hardware development lifecycle, from preliminary design and detailed engineering through manufacturing support, structural testing, and qualification. You will collaborate closely with other engineering teams, help establish internal processes and standards, and mentor developing engineers. As part of a growing startup, you should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities and willingness to take on a variety of technical challenges. 

Independently complete structural design and/or analysis of major aerospace components or assemblies 

Perform general strength assessments via hand calcs and FEA (NASTRAN/ANSYS), fatigue, buckling, and stability 

Own CAD models in NX/CATIA, including large assemblies and release processes 

Define loads in coordination with GNC, propulsion, avionics, and systems teams 

Support structural test campaigns and contribute to flight qualification plans 

Develop internal processes, standards, and documentation for the growing team 

Mentor developing engineers through technical guidance, design reviews, and knowledge sharing. 

Proficiency with major engineering software tools such as TeamCenter, Dassault systems, Jira, Confluence for configuration control and program collaboration 

Contribute to a collaborative, communicative team culture — strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills are essential 

B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering 

5+ years of relevant engineering experience 

Demonstrated proficiency in structural design with CAD (NX/CATIA), structural analysis (NASTRAN/ANSYS), or both 

Working familiarity with the complementary discipline and ability to collaborate effectively between design and analysis 

Demonstrated proficiency in hand calculations and first-principles analysis 

Familiarity with fatigue analysis methods and principles 

Strong communication, collaboration, and team-building skills 

U.S. Person eligible to work on ITAR-restricted programs 

Experience developing random vibration environments 

Experience designing for manufacturability and producibility 

Experience developing structural loads, including coupled loads analysis 

Working knowledge of material behavior, structural stability, joint analysis, damage tolerance, and vibration 

Experience creating or contributing to engineering standards and internal procedures 

Background in multi-stage rockets, aircraft, or spacecraft 

Flight qualification and structural test experience 

Familiarity with TeamCenter, Dassault systems software, Jira, and Confluence