Structural Engineer - Solar Arrays (f/m/d)

About the role

Space hardware must survive launch before it can perform its mission. Your analyses and tests will prove that it can.

AsStructural Engineer - Solar Arrays (f/m/d), you will verify the structures and mechanisms that enable Dcubed's solar arrays to survive launch and deploy successfully in orbit. Through a combination of advanced simulation, first-principles engineering, and hands-on testing, you will turn ambitious designs into flight-ready hardware.

If you enjoy understanding the physics behind complex systems, challenging assumptions, and validating your work through testing, this role is for you.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analyses of solar arrays, deployable structures, mechanisms, and hold-down and release systems.

• Develop and validate FEM models for static, dynamic, thermoelastic, buckling, and non-linear analyses.

• Size composite and metallic structures, bonded joints, bolted interfaces, and inserts, and calculate structural margins of safety.

• Use analytical calculations and engineering judgement to cross-check simulation results and verify model assumptions.

• Support the design of lightweight structures and mechanisms capable of surviving launch loads and deploying successfully in orbit.

• Define and lead structural test campaigns, including vibration, static load, deployment, and thermal testing.

• Define loads, instrumentation, notching approaches, test predictions, and pass/fail criteria.

• Participate in test execution, investigate anomalies, correlate models, and support verification closure.

• Build and test coupons, prototypes, and representative hardware to generate material data and validate analytical models.

• Prepare structural analyses, test reports, and verification documentation, and support internal and customer reviews.

Candidate Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related discipline.

• 3+ years of experience in structural analysis and testing of aerospace, space, or other high-performance structures.

• Experience taking hardware from analysis through testing and verification.

• Experience with composite structures, deployable systems, mechanisms, or spacecraft hardware is highly desirable.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, dynamics, vibration, and load-path analysis.

• Advanced FEM knowledge and strong experience with FEMAP and Nastran NX.

• Experience with Ansys and LS-Dyna is considered an advantage.

• Experience performing static, modal, random vibration, transient, buckling, thermoelastic, and non-linear analyses.

• Experience sizing composite and metallic structures, bolted joints, inserts, and bonded interfaces.

• Ability to assess structural margins and independently verify simulation results using first-principles calculations.

• Experience defining and executing structural test campaigns, including instrumentation, notching, and model correlation.

• Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for engineering calculations and data analysis.

• Familiarity with ECSS, NASA, or equivalent aerospace structural standards.

Personal Attributes

• Analytical, rigorous, and driven to understand the physics behind the results.

• Strong sense of ownership from analysis through successful test execution.

• Hands-on mindset with a willingness to prototype, instrument, and test hardware.

• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

• Effective communicator and team player in a multidisciplinary environment.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Excellent English language skills.

• Eligibility to work in Germany

What we offer

We want you to feel welcome and have the best possible tools for your work here at Dcubed. Therefore, we have selected a set of benefits to support your work days and everyday life, today and longer term.

• Commute: Deutschlandticket

• Wellbeing: EGYM Wellpass, recovery toolkit

• ETF-based pension program offering 30-50% company contribution

• Modern work equipment, based on your role and needs: laptop, phone, headphones, electric desk, wide screens, state-of-the-art workshop equipment

• Office environment: kitchen and break areas; lunch offering, beverages & snacks at the office; small exercise area, Space Bar

• Work-life balance & activities: hybrid work arrangements (location and working hours), company events and trips, launch parties

• Professional development: 70-20-10 thinking, training budget, training library, regular performance reviews

• Company swag: hoodie, t-shirt, stickers, water bottle, notebook etc.