Freelance Structural Packaging Design Jobs in Colorado

Golden, CO | On-Site | Full-Time

Today, everything we send to space is constrained by what fits inside a rocket fairing. That's a fundamental bottleneck to building more capable spacecraft. Rendezvous Robotics is solving this problem with electromagnetic self-assembling tiles that enable spacecraft that are bigger and more powerful than anything that can be folded to fit into a rocket. We're a small team based in Golden, Colorado, executing on a clear path from flight demonstration to our first operational systems. Our work spans hardware, software, and systems engineering, and we're always looking for people who want to build things that matter.

We are looking for a Mid to Senior Level Structural Engineer to own flight hardware from cradle to grave: design, analysis, and test, and to lead structural analysis for the program. You will take complex, space-grade structures and mechanisms from requirements and detailed CAD through analysis, qualification, and on-orbit operation, and you will set the structural methods, loads, and test requirements the rest of the team works to. This is an individual-contributor role with technical leadership: you'll be hands-on with your own hardware while establishing standards and processes for how we model, test, and disposition structures across the program. You'll partner closely with systems, electrical, software, manufacturing, and test, and mentor the engineers growing into the discipline. This is a full-time, on-site role in Golden, Colorado.

• Own space-grade structures, mechanisms, and electromechanical assemblies from concept through detailed design, qualification, production, and on-orbit operation, including requirements definition, detailed CAD, tolerance stack-ups, and design reviews.
• Lead structural analysis for the program: modal, quasi-static, random vibration, sine, shock, buckling, bolted-joint, and thermo-elastic analysis of primary and secondary structures and integrated assemblies.
• Develop and post-process finite element models to predict design responses and demonstrate positive margins of safety.
• Set the structural load, environment, and test requirements for components, subsystems, and full spacecraft.
• Lead the vibration and structural test campaigns for hardware you have designed and analyzed, including instrumentation choices such as accelerometers and strain gauges, and correlate models to test data to sharpen your predictions.
• Work with manufacturing and supplier partners on materials, joints, and designs that are both producible and testable; produce and check detailed drawings and GD&T.
• Build out our structural design and analysis best practices and mentor junior engineers.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of spacecraft, launch-vehicle, or comparable flight-hardware design and structural analysis experience.
• Demonstrated cradle-to-grave ownership of flight hardware—carrying mechanisms or structural assemblies from concept through design, analysis, qualification, and on-orbit operation.
• Strong command of one or more industry-standard structural FEA packages (Nastran/Femap, ANSYS, Abaqus, etc.), with demonstrated modal, quasi-static, random vibration, buckling, and bolted-joint analysis experience.
• Working knowledge of launch and on-orbit load environments, factors of safety, and margin-of-safety reporting.
• Hands-on structural dynamics testing experience and model-to-test correlation.
• Proficiency with CAD tools for 3D modeling, detailed drawings, and tolerance stack-ups, and with GD&T (ASME Y14.5).
• Strong ability to communicate across engineering disciplines to make program-critical decisions.

• Experience analyzing composite structures (classical lamination theory, joints, material characterization).
• Proficiency with Python or MATLAB for analysis and data processing.
• Familiarity with NASA (e.g., NASA-STD-5020, GEVS) and/or SMC-S-016 verification standards.
• Experience with fatigue, fracture, and damage-tolerance methods (e.g., NASGRO).
• Experience analyzing space-rated avionics, electronics, and PCB/PCBA assemblies.
• Proficiency with Onshape (SolidWorks, NX, or Creo also valued).
• Familiarity with separation systems, deployables, or precision mechanisms.
• Hands-on R&D background—prototyping, testing, and iterating on novel mechanical concepts.
• Experience in a startup or fast-iteration hardware environment.

Engineer: $90,000 - $135,000

Senior Engineer: $135,000 - $165,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. In addition to the base salary, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options. You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. You may also receive 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is based on merit, competence, and qualifications, and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.