Senior​/Principal Structural Analyst

Company Overview

Zeno Power is the leading developer of nuclear batteries – compact power systems that provide reliable, clean energy in frontier environments. By harnessing the heat from radioisotopes, Zeno’s batteries power critical missions on Earth, in space, and  bring this technology to market by 2027, Zeno is seeking out purpose‑driven and innovative professionals who are comfortable working in a startup environment. Team members will have a direct impact in enabling commercial and national security missions from the depths of our oceans, to the surface of the moon, and in austere environments here on Earth.

Zeno is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Zeno is seeking a highly motivated Senior/Principal Structural Analyst to support the mission‑oriented efforts of developing and bringing to market Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) technologies. This role will be reporting to the Analysis Manager.

• Perform detailed mechanical and structural analyses of Radioisotope Power System (RPS) structures, subsystems, and components across all program phases—from early concept and prototype to qualification and flight hardware.
• Evaluate mechanical performance against structural limits, regulatory requirements, and applicable design and pressure vessel codes (ASME BPVC, AWS D1.1, etc.).
• Apply NASA structural design and verification standards (e.g., NASA-STD-5001, NASA-STD-5012, NASA-HDBK-7004, NASA-STD-7009) to ensure compliance with flight‑class structural integrity, safety factors, and analysis documentation practices.
• Assess component margins and performance under mechanical, thermal, and acoustic environments using static, model, vibration, and explicit dynamic analyses.
• Document findings and provide guidance through clear, traceable analysis reports that conform with Zeno Power technical writing standards.
• Develop test requirements and plans to validate analytical results; correlate test data to analytical models and update predictions as required.
• Provide oversight and mentorship to internal analysts, review vendor and partner analysis deliverables for technical accuracy, compliance, and quality consistency.
• Provide input and guidance to mechanical design teams to inform component sizing, subsystem configuration, and material selection.
• Collaborate closely with systems, materials, and test engineers to ensure robust, manufacturable, and testable hardware designs.

• B.S. or higher in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university (M.S. preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in structural analysis including steady state, random vibration, and thermal environments for aerospace or nuclear systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency and deep understanding of FEA tools (ANSYS Mechanical preferred; Abaqus, Nastran, or LS‑DYNA a plus).
• Strong background in dynamic structural analysis, including random vibration, sine sweep, shock, and transient response.
• Experience with impact, re‑entry, or launch environment analyses is a plus.
• Working knowledge of NASA standards and verification processes (NASA-STD-5001B, NASA-STD-5012, NASA-HDBK-7005, NASA-STD-7009) highly desired.
• Familiarity with fracture mechanics, fatigue life estimation, and damage tolerance principles.
• Experience generating stress reports and component margins justifications consistent with NASA or aerospace prime contractor standards.
• Working knowledge of 3D CAD tools (Solid Works or similar) and GD&T (ASME Y14.5) for model‑based definition and analysis.
• Experience working under structured quality systems (NQA-1, AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar).
• Excellent technical writing skills and ability to present results clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Self‑starter capable of leading analysis…