Principal Software Engineer, Vehicle Analysis (Structures & Dynamics)

Turion is developing the critical infrastructure of the space economy. We're doing this by building vertically integrated hardware and software: DROID, our line of space vehicles, and Starfire, our software suite covering simulation, modeling, planning, and operations. We're a group of people who fell in love with the future sci-fi promised us, and we're building it into reality. We build hard things. We build them well. And we're just getting started.

Structural and dynamic analysis is where spacecraft schedules quietly go to die: rebuild the mesh, regenerate the load cases, wait on the solve, transcribe margins into a stress report, then do it again because a bracket moved. We want that loop automated end to end.

You will embed with our structures and dynamics analysts and build the pipelines behind quasi-static, modal, random vibration, shock, and coupled loads analysis, plus the tooling that correlates models to vibration and modal survey test data.

This is a full-time, exempt position based at our Irvine, California headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Generate the FEM. Build parametric finite element model generation from CAD, including automated defeaturing, meshing, connections, and mass representation, so a design revision produces an updated model without hand rebuild.

• Automate load cases. Generate quasi-static, sine, random vibration, shock, acoustic, and coupled loads case matrices from launch vehicle environments and mission definitions.

• Run at scale. Orchestrate batch solves across NASTRAN, Abaqus, Ansys, CalculiX, or in-house solvers on cloud and HPC compute, with scheduling, caching, and cost tracking.

• Automate the margins. Build post-processing that computes margins of safety against allowables, rolls up worst case by part and load case, and generates stress and dynamics reports ready for review.

• Screen for life. Automate fatigue, fracture, and fastener and joint screening across the vehicle so nothing depends on a single analyst remembering to check it.

• Correlate to test. Ingest modal survey, sine, random vibration, and shock test data, automate model correlation including frequency and mode shape comparison, and track correlation quality.

• Optimize mass. Build surrogate models and optimization workflows that let designers trade stiffness, strength, and mass in minutes rather than weeks.

• Control the configuration. Version models, allowables, environments, and results with traceability to the vehicle configuration and to the requirements they verify.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, or a related technical field.

• 6+ years of software engineering experience for the senior level, or 10+ years with demonstrated technical leadership for the principal level.

• Expert-level Python for scientific computing, and comfort in a compiled language such as C++ where performance requires it.

• Hands-on experience automating FEA or preprocessing tools through their APIs, such as NASTRAN, Femap, Abaqus, Ansys, ANSA, or Hypermesh.

• Working understanding of structural and dynamic analysis including FEA fundamentals, modal analysis, random vibration and PSD methods, shock response, and margin of safety practice. You should be able to tell when a result is wrong, not just when a script fails.

• Experience orchestrating compute heavy workloads on HPC or cloud batch systems using Slurm, AWS Batch, or an equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Launch environment and coupled loads analysis experience.

• Vibration or modal test correlation.

• Fatigue and fracture methods.

• Structural optimization or generative design.

• Prior work at a spacecraft, launch, or automotive company.

Compensation: $175,000 to $225,000 USD annually.

Employees may be asked to support alternate shifts, extended shifts, and/or travel during peak work periods.

ITAR Requirements:

This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of our employees. In addition to a competitive base salary and company stock, determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, and market demand, full-time employees are eligible for:

• Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.

• Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan with a 3% Employer Direct Contribution to help you plan for your future.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.

• Parental Leave: Paid parental leave following the birth of a newborn or adoption.

• Emotional Wellbeing: A no-cost Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your household’s emotional health and wellbeing.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing internal training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.

• Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.

We are dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching environment for our team members, recognizing that our collective success is built upon the well-being and satisfaction of each individual.

Turion Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Turion Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.