Nasa Structural Engineer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

About Opterus

Opterus Research & Development is an innovative aerospace company based in Loveland, Colorado, specializing in deployable space structures and high-strain composite systems. We combine cutting-edge composite materials, origami-inspired architectures, and elegant engineering to deliver lightweight, high-performance structural systems for commercial, defense, and scientific missions.

Position Overview

Opterus' Structural Engineer will shape system-level architecture while developing robust, scalable design solutions. You will collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, manufacturing, and program management groups to define structural requirements, influence early design decisions, and ensure performance and reliability through rigorous analysis and verification. Experience with deployable systems such as booms, RF antennas, and solar arrays is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design and analysis of composite, metallic, and hybrid structures for deployable space systems and precision mechanisms.
• Develop and manage verifiable pointing/shape error budgets for precision structures accounting for error sources resulting from thermal, dynamic, manufacturing, material and other effects.
• Build and run FEA and classical analysis models to evaluate strength, stiffness, stability, dynamics, and environmental performance.
• Support the design and analysis of mechanical deployment systems.
• Assist in developing structural verification plans, including test setup definition, instrumentation coordination, and correlation of analysis to test data.
• Participate in material selection, laminate design, and structural configuration decisions for composite components.
• Help generate load cases for launch, on orbit, and deployment environments.
• Perform structural sizing, margin calculations, and mass efficiency assessments under guidance from senior engineers.
• Produce engineering drawings, specifications, and supporting documentation.
• Work with manufacturing and test teams to resolve build issues, interpret test results, and iterate designs.
• Coordinate with composites manufacturing to ensure analysis inputs are reflected in build strategies.
• Contribute technical content for proposals and participate in customer discussions as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Structural, Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in structural design and analysis, ideally with exposure to precision spacecraft structures, deployables, or other high performance aerospace systems
• Proficiency with CAD/PLM tools such as SolidWorks
• Experience with FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, COMSOL)
• Working knowledge of composite structures, laminate theory, and failure analysis.
• Familiarity with composite manufacturing processes, prototype fabrication, and test fixture design
• Handson experience supporting structural testing and correlating analysis to test data
• Ability to work independently on moderately complex problems and contribute to larger technical efforts
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with deployable space structures and space mechanisms, e.g., RF systems, solar arrays, and booms
• Familiarity with nonlinear analysis, dynamics, buckling, or thermal structural coupling
• Demonstrable experience with Structural-Thermal-Optical Performance (STOP) analysis for precision opto-mechanical space structures
• Knowledge of aerospace standards (NASA, DoD, ECSS) and qualification processes
• Experience with people management and a desire to mentor others
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range of $98,000-122,000 based on experience and qualifications
• Flexible and hybrid work schedules (two or more days in office per week)
• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life, and AD&D insurance
• Opterus pays 100% of employees' premiums and 70% of dependents' premiums
• 401K matching up to 4%
• 9 paid holidays