Structural Analyst

Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.

Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles.

As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.

We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.

Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the Role:

The Mechanical Engineering team at Planet is seeking a Structural Analyst to help drive the design of key spacecraft subsystems across Planet’s fleet of Earth-imaging satellites! Your mission will be to champion our spacecraft analysis efforts, from the subsystem level, all the way up to the top-level spacecraft. The ideal candidate will be an early career Structural Analyst who has experience performing structural analysis using a combination of finite element analysis and classical hand calculations. As a member of the Mechanical Engineering team within Planet’s Space Systems division, you will be a key contributor and stakeholder in Planet’s agile aerospace approach to spacecraft design, and will work closely with the Planet Mechanical Engineering Team, Qualification Team, Electro-Optical Team, and Manufacturing as well as the rest of Planet’s leading-edge spacecraft design teams. 

This is a full-time, in-office position based in our San Francisco office 5 days per week.

Impact You'll Own:

• Own the structural analysis effort on key spacecraft subsystems across Planet’s satellite fleet
• Drive documentation and presentation of new designs, trade studies, and breakout models throughout design phases and reviews
• Collaborate with design team to drive/perform analyses on key spacecraft subsystems to meet stiffness, strength, and performance requirements
• Manage vendors to ensure components meet stringent survival and performance requirements
• Support ICD development to generate survival environments and requirements for your subsystems
• Drive test planning and qualification campaigns
• Support debugging and root-causing test for on-orbit anomalies
• Be hands-on with flight and test hardware
• Break hardware as part of our hardware in-the-loop design paradigm
• Validation of Models thru testing and model correlation

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering or other related engineering or science degree
• 4+ years of structural analysis experience (aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, etc)
• Experience with structural analysis methods including classical hand calculations and analysis of mechanical joints (bolted joints, bonded joints, etc)
• Experience using Finite Element Software/Solvers (NASTRAN preferred)
• Proficiency generating high quality FEMs 
• Experience using computer-aided design (CAD) software
• Experience setting up models and analyzing components for static and modal analysis
• Excellent understanding in strength of materials and common structural failure modes
• Ability to be self-motivated and responsible while working in a highly dynamic environment
• Outstanding verbal and visual communication skills

What Makes You Stand Out: 

• Masters degree in Aerospace / Mechanical Engineering or other related engineering or science degree
• 4+ years of analyzing spacecraft, aircraft, and/or precision optical components
• Experience in engineering clubs (Formula, Baja, cubesat, design build fly, etc)
• Experience in process improvement and task automation
• Proficiency in Python, Matlab, and/or Visual Basic (VBA)
• Proficiency with Femap, NASTRAN, and/or Hypermesh
• Experience performing dynamic environments analysis (random/sine vibe)
• Experience generating test specifications for dynamics environments (random/sine vibe)
• Experience presenting analysis results in design reviews