Job Information
USU RESEARCH FOUNDATION Senior Mechanical Engineer in NORTH LOGAN, Utah
Job ID: 6804B
Date Posted: April 21, 2026
At Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), you'll lead the structural engineering of advanced electro-optical and infrared (IR) satellite payloads supporting critical national security and space missions. These are real flight systems-your work ensures hardware survives launch, operates in space, and delivers mission-critical performance.
We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to join our Civil and Commercial Space Division.The selected candidate will own structural performance across the full lifecycle-from early design and finite element analysis (FEA) through environmental testing-working with a highly technical team developing spaceflight hardware and satellite systems.
The Civil and Commercial Space Division is at the forefront of scientific research and space exploration. We equip major Government and commercial missions with calibrated state-of-the-art sensors and satellites. We also provide world-class AIandT technologies and mission management. Our projects include challenges across planetary science, Earth observation, heliophysics, and astrophysics. Be part of a team that pushes the boundaries of what's possible in space and contributes to monumental scientific discoveries.
What you'll do
Lead structural design, analysis, and verification for satellite payloads, space instruments, and mechanical systems
Perform and guide finite element analysis (FEA) using tools such as NX Nastran, Femap, or similar
Analyze and validate performance under launch environments (random vibration, sine vibration, shock)
Evaluate thermal and cryogenic structural behavior, including thermal distortion and material properties
Conduct modal, dynamic, and nonlinear analysis of complex aerospace structures
Support environmental testing and structural verification (vibration testing, shock testing, etc.)
Serve as a technical authority in design reviews (PDR, CDR) and engineering decision-making
Key areas of impact
Aerospace structures and satellite systems: Structural integrity of spaceflight hardware
Launch survivability: Random vibration, shock, and dynamic load analysis
Cryogenic engineering: Structural performance at low temperatures and thermal-structural coupling
Precision optical systems: Jitter analysis and micro-vibration control for high-stability payloads
Mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE): Structural design and certification
What success looks like (first 6-12 months)
Lead FEA and structural analysis for an active satellite or space payload program
Deliver validated models correlated with test data
Contribute to major aerospace design reviews (PDR/CDR)
Improve modeling, simulation, or structural test processes
What you bring (required)
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering
10+ years of experience in structural analysis, FEA, or mechanical engineering for aerospace, space, or high-performance systems
Strong experience with finite element analysis (FEA) tools (NX Nastran, Femap, ANSYS, or similar)
Experience with vibration analysis, modal analysis, and structural dynamics
Ability to lead complex engineering efforts from analysis through validation
Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
Experience that will set you apart (preferred)
Experience with satellite systems, space payloads, or optical instruments
Background in cryogenic systems or thermal-structural analysis
Expertise in:
Fastened joint analysis
Jitter / vibro-acoustic analysis
Nonlinear FEA (contact, large deformation)
Adhesive bonding or fracture mechanics
Fam iliarity with NASA standards (NASA-STD-5001, GEVS, etc.)
Master's degree or PhD in mechanical or... For full info follow application link.
EOE including Disability and Ve