Senior Structural Analyst - Spacecraft Engineering

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc . [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting- edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense.

In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance . Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space.

IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthen global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations. Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity.

Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically under-represented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

Location:

This role will be based onsite at our office in Louisville, CO or San Francisco, CA. Travel:
Up to 10%, domestic or international. Job

Capella, an IonQ company, is looking for a seasoned Structural Analyst to help refine our current analysis tools that support the design, development, and qualification of hardware for space applications. The candidate will advance Capella’s FEA modeling and analysis abilities by developing a standardized analysis approach with associated documentation, creating detailed FEA models of the spacecraft and components used for vehicle level analysis and to output environments for design and test, and support the improvement of designs.

You will have the unique opportunity to come in at an early stage and develop the tools and processes that will be used to guide Capella’s growth. The successful candidate will work closely with design, manufacturing, systems, test, and program teams to ensure hardware meets performance, reliability, and mission requirements while maintaining aggressive development schedules.

• Perform detailed structural analyses for spacecraft, payload, and ground support hardware.
• Develop, correlate, and maintain high-fidelity finite element models for static, dynamic, thermal, and nonlinear analyses.
• Generate component level dynamic environments (vibe/shock), acoustic, loads, and thermal limits from launch environments and thermal environments.
• Generate structural margins of safety in accordance with customer and industry standards.
• Provide analytical recommendations that support engineering trade studies and critical project decisions.
• Partner with and mentor design engineers to improve structures for strength, stiffness, weight,…