Structural Engineer Jobs in Arizona

About us: What you'll do: The day-to-day:

• Perform structural analysis and verification to ensure hardware survives launch, deployment, and operational environments with adequate margin.
• Lead structural analysis efforts for satellite structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, and deployable systems.
• Perform and direct structural, vibration, dynamic, shock, and environmental analyses to validate flight hardware designs.
• Independently define problems, evaluate trade studies, and develop engineering solutions that balance performance, schedule, cost, and risk.
• Own structural verification from concept development through qualification, production, integration, and on-orbit support.
• Develop engineering requirements, specifications, procedures, and qualification plans related to structural performance.
• Lead hardware structural testing, environmental testing, and anomaly resolution activities.
• Drive Design Reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and provide technical recommendations to program leadership.
• Collaborate closely with systems, thermal, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, reliability, and supply chain teams to ensure successful product execution.
• Evaluate new technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes to improve structural performance and scalability.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and designers.
• Serve as a recognized subject matter expert in spacecraft structural analysis.

What you'll need:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including significant experience developing and analyzing spaceflight hardware.
• Demonstrated experience leading structural analysis and subsystem development for spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, or other aerospace systems.
• Strong understanding of structural, dynamic, shock, and environmental requirements for space applications.
• Experience with engineering analysis tools including ANSYS, Nastran, Simcenter, or equivalent.
• Experience designing or interacting with flight hardware using CAD tools such as Creo, SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent.
• Experience with environmental qualification and acceptance testing, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and thermal cycling.
• Ability to independently solve complex technical problems with limited direction.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentation of technical analysis data to management and customers.
• Experience working within cross-functional product development teams.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

What will help you on the job:

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with small satellite, broadband constellation, or spacecraft bus development programs.
• Experience analyzing composite structures, lightweight designs, and deployable mechanisms.
• Knowledge of launch vehicle structural interfaces and spacecraft integration processes.
• Familiarity with DFM/DFA principles and production scaling of aerospace hardware.
• Experience with Teamcenter, Windchill, or other PLM systems.
• Knowledge of spaceflight standards, workmanship requirements, and structural environmental qualification methodologies.
• Experience performing root cause investigations and driving corrective actions.
• Previous experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership across teams.

Salary range: $141,500.00 - $224,000.00 / annually. For specific work locations within San Jose, the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range for this role is $176,000.00- $264,000.00/ annually : At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasat’s comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits. EEO statement: