Structural Assembler, Sr. jobs in Grand Junction, CO

Tendeg LLC is a premier spacecraft deployables company. Our novel designs are enabling exciting missions providing high gain antennas for sensor applications and communications. We have 12 antennas on-orbit and 20 flight deliverables occurring in 2024. Our missions include Earth Science (weather, surface deformation and change); LEO, GEO and lunar communications; synthetic aperture radar (SAR); and unique radio frequency sensors for commercial and government applications. We have apertures from 50cm to 10m, VHF to Q/V-band, and precise 2-axis gimbals. Please join our innovative and rapidly growing team.

Tendeg’s Philosophy

We encourage innovation and entrepreneurial energy. We are successful because we take a unique approach to solving problems. We look for creative thinkers and self-motivated people that can collaborate within our open team environment. TENDEG is an acronym for TENacious Design and Engineering Group. Obviously, tenacity is another trait we embrace.

Title: Sr. Structural Engineer

Position Type: Full-Time

Pay Range: $110,000 - $160,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data)

Location: Louisville, CO

About the role: We are looking an Sr. Structural Engineer that will support one of the following programs:

• INCUS: NASA has selected Tendeg to deliver four Ka-band deployable antennas for a new Earth science mission called Investigation of Convective Updrafts (INCUS) that will study the behavior of tropical storms and thunderstorms, including their impacts on weather and climate models. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-selects-new-mission- to-study-storms-impacts-on-climate-models
• 2-axis Gimbal Antennas: Tendeg has multiple contracts to develop, fabricate, test and deliver flight units for deployable high gain antennas from X-band to Q/V-band. These are for sensor and communication missions for LEO, MEO and lunar applications.
• Perimeter Truss Reflectors: Tendeg has multiple contracts to deliver large aperture antennas for GEO communications, SAR, and national security missions.

What you'll do:

• Perform detailed stress analysis on complex deployable mechanical structures with strict pointing, stability, and repeatability requirements. Analysis techniques will range from quick turnaround hand calculations and concept FEMs, to detailed FEA nonlinear contact and multi-body dynamic deployment models.
• Determine structural margins of safety for random and sine vibration environments.
• Define test requirements and direct vibration testing to verify hardware survival in launch environments and correlate finite element models.
• Present analysis results during customer gate reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, and TRR.
• Perform detailed drawing review and release.
• Lead and mentor junior engineers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Key job requirements:

• 10 years of applicable experience.
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or another related field.
• Strong analysis skills including free body diagram development, classical mechanics, closed form hand calculations, and finite element analysis.
• Demonstrated knowledge of advanced finite element analysis such as random vibration, large displacement with contact, and flex-body dynamic simulations. Preferred FEA proficiency in FEMAP, NX NASTRAN, and ABAQUS.
• Experience in moving mechanical assembly analysis. This includes kinematic and flex body motion, joints, mechanical advantage, rotating/sliding surfaces, friction, contact, and torque margins.
• Test support and correlation experience including vibration, static load/deflection, and deployment forces.
• Knowledge of materials and fabrication methods, specifically aerospace materials (metallics, composites, adhesives, bonding) that are typical for precision structures and space missions.
• Experience in motorized drive train design and analysis is a plus. This includes lifetime and reliability of motors, bearings, gear trains, lubricants, launch vibration, on-orbit duty cycle, and orbital environments.
• Proven ability to work in fast paced, multidisciplinary team environments.
• Good communication skills (oral, written, and presentation) are required as this position will involve technical report writing and presenting at customer reviews.

Benefits:

As we are growing and investing in our company, we invest in our team. We recognize employee contributions through competitive salaries and bonuses and take pride in taking care of our employees. Here is how we show our appreciation:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Medical/Dental and Vision Insurance Plans
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan
• Company SWAG
• Company sponsored lunches/outings
• Dog friendly work environment
• Free company parking
• Break rooms fully stocked with snacks, drinks, and an espresso coffee machine

US Citizenship Is Required

Tendeg LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.