Head of Primary Structures

Our client are an ambitious Space company developing advanced space systems that will underpin the next generation of orbital infrastructure. Their technologies are designed to enable new ways of generating, transmitting, and utilising resources in space, unlocking capabilities that were previously impractical or impossible.

They are seeking a Primary Structures Lead to own the design, analysis, qualification, and flight performance of a brand new Launch Vehicles primary structure. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role responsible for developing lightweight, robust, and manufacturable structures capable of performing in demanding flight environments.

You will work closely with propulsion, manufacturing, avionics, systems, test, and flight operations teams to take structural hardware from early concept through design, manufacturing, testing, and flight. The ideal candidate combines deep structural engineering expertise with a practical, build‑first mindset and enjoys solving complex technical challenges in a fast‑moving environment.

• Lead the design and development of the vehicle's primary structures, including load‑bearing airframe components, tanks, thrust structures, interstages, and structural interfaces.
• Drive structural optimisation to minimise mass while meeting strength, stiffness, fatigue, buckling, fracture, and thermal requirements.
• Perform and oversee structural analysis using hand calculations, finite element analysis (FEA), and analytical methods.
• Define structural verification strategies and execute qualification programmes from coupon testing through full-scale structural testing.
• Correlate analytical models with test and flight data to improve structural performance and design accuracy.
• Work closely with manufacturing teams to improve producibility, resolve build issues, and support rapid hardware iteration.
• Investigate structural anomalies, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Support vehicle integration, ground testing, flight operations, post-flight inspections, and refurbishment activities.
• Mentor structural engineers and establish engineering best practices across the organisation.

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience designing, analysing, or qualifying primary structures for aerospace vehicles or other high-performance engineering systems.
• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, load paths, structural sizing, fatigue, fracture mechanics, buckling, and material selection.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through design, manufacturing, testing, and qualification.
• Experience leading engineering projects or technical teams.
• Proficiency with CAD software and finite element analysis tools.

• Experience developing structures for launch vehicles, spacecraft, reusable flight systems, or other advanced aerospace platforms.
• Experience with metallic structures, welded assemblies, composite materials, and bonded structures.
• Experience designing cryogenic structures, pressure vessels, or hardware operating in challenging thermal environments.
• Familiarity with structural qualification, environmental testing, and flight hardware certification.
• Experience correlating simulation models with experimental or flight-test data.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced engineering environment focused on rapid design-build-test cycles.

If you are interested then please apply today.