The posting
About Portal
Portal Space Systems is on a mission to expand humanity’s freedom of movement in space. We’re building the spacecraft that makes that mission possible. From our Bothell, WA headquarters, we design vehicles with the maneuverability, resilience, and adaptability needed for the next era of orbital operations. Every system we build is in service of a simple idea: space should be more accessible, responsive, and capable. Joining Portal means stepping into a team that believes in bold engineering, fast iteration, and the power of small groups to change what’s possible. If you want your work to directly shape the future of in-space mobility, join us.
Position Summary
The Senior Loads & Dynamics Engineer owns the structural dynamic environment for Portal spacecraft, from predicting it to proving it on the shaker table and in the acoustic chamber. This engineer develops launch and in-space loads, builds and correlates dynamic models, and defines and leads vibration, acoustic, and low-frequency test campaigns that verify the vehicle against its predicted environments. The role sits at the seam between analysis and test: the ideal candidate writes the pre-test prediction, runs the test, and closes the loop with correlated models and verified margins. This engineer works closely with structures, design, vehicle test, propulsion, avionics, and launch integration teams to ensure the vehicle and its components survive and perform through every dynamic environment from ground handling through launch and on-orbit operations.
Responsibilities
Loads & Dynamics Analysis
- Develop, maintain, and own the spacecraft dynamic finite element models and reduced-order models used for loads, modal, and response analyses, with configuration control.
- Perform coupled loads analysis (CLA) with launch vehicle provider models, including liftoff, transonic, max-q, MECO/staging, and separation events, and manage launch provider interface and loads-cycle deliverables.
- Derive and maintain limit, design, and qualification load factors, interface loads, and component-level random vibration, sine, shock, and acoustic environments, including mass-acceleration curves and preliminary load cycles in early design.
- Perform modal, frequency response, random vibration, shock response, and transient analyses to predict structural and component response and support margin of safety assessments.
- Perform vibroacoustic analysis (FE/BEM and/or statistical energy analysis) to predict acoustic and acoustically induced vibration environments for panels, appendages, and lightweight structures.
- Assess low-frequency dynamics, including primary structural modes, sine and quasi-static launch environments, pogo and propellant slosh interaction, and coupling between structure and propulsion or control systems.
- Support design trades through dynamic assessment of stiffness, mass distribution, mounting, isolation, and damping strategies.
Dynamic Test Planning & Execution
- Define the dynamic test strategy for components, subsystems, and the integrated vehicle, including modal survey, sine, random vibration, sine-burst, shock, and acoustic testing, with test levels derived from analysis and launch provider requirements.
- Write test plans, test requirements, and procedures, and provide pre-test analytical predictions, including response predictions, expected modal frequencies, and notching and force-limiting strategies.
- Define test setups, including fixture and adapter design requirements, control and response accelerometer placement, instrumentation, boundary conditions, and abort limits.
- Lead and execute vibration, acoustic, and low-frequency tests at Portal and at third-party facilities, serving as test lead or test conductor and working alongside shaker, chamber, and data acquisition operators.
- Perform on-the-spot data review during testing, including transfer function review, signature sweeps, and pre/post-test low-level sine surveys, to detect shifts in frequency or damping and make real-time test decisions.
- Select, qualify, and manage test facilities and vendors, and define facility, fixture, instrumentation, and data system requirements early enough to support schedule.
Test-Analysis Correlation & Verification
- Correlate test data to analytical models using modal assurance criteria, frequency and mode shape comparisons, and transfer function matching; update models to meet correlation criteria.
- Produce post-test analysis reports, qualification and acceptance evidence, and verification artifacts that close requirements in the vehicle verification matrix.
- Assess test anomalies, over-tests, under-tests, and nonconformances and recommend disposition, retest, or analysis-based closure.
- Establish lessons learned, templates, and data standards so that dynamic test knowledge compounds across vehicles and programs.
Automation & Cross-Functional Support
- Develop Python and/or MATLAB tools to automate loads processing, environment derivation, test data reduction, spectral analysis, correlation, and reporting.
- Partner with design engineers to develop mounting, isolation, and structural solutions that meet dynamic requirements while minimizing mass and cost.
- Collaborate with the structural analysis, vehicle test, propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to flow dynamic environments into component specifications and to resolve dynamic issues.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, structural dynamics, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle loads and dynamics, structural dynamics, or dynamic environments engineering.
- Hands-on experience planning or executing vibration testing (random, sine, and/or modal survey) in support of aerospace hardware qualification or acceptance.
- Experience developing and analyzing dynamic finite element models using FEMAP/Nastran or equivalent (e.g., Siemens Simcenter 3D), including modal, frequency response, and random response analyses.
- Experience deriving dynamic environments and load factors and performing associated margin of safety assessments.
- Proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB for analysis automation, test data reduction, and reporting.
- Experience using version control systems such as Git in an engineering analysis environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree or higher in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or structural dynamics.
- Direct experience leading acoustic testing of spacecraft hardware, including test level derivation, blanket and chamber configuration, microphone placement, and acoustic-induced vibration response assessment.
- Experience with low-frequency testing and analysis, including sine vibration, low-frequency base-drive and modal survey, large-structure or vehicle-level modal testing, and low-frequency launch environments.
- Experience performing coupled loads analysis with a launch provider and managing launch provider loads-cycle deliverables and interface requirements.
- Experience leading spacecraft vehicle-level or large-assembly dynamic qualification and acceptance test campaigns.
- Experience with vibroacoustic modeling using FE/BEM and/or SEA tools (e.g., VA One, Actran, or equivalent).
- Experience with shock testing and shock environment prediction, including pyroshock and separation events.
- Experience with vibration control systems and data acquisition (e.g., Siemens, m+p International, Spectral Dynamics, Data Physics, or similar), including notching and force limiting.
- Experience with test fixture and adapter design, including fixture modal characterization and effects on test fidelity.
- Experience with model updating, test-analysis correlation, and uncertainty quantification, including MAC and cross-orthogonality checks.
- Experience with propellant slosh, pogo, or fluid-structure interaction affecting spacecraft with propulsion systems.
- Familiarity with relevant standards and requirements such as NASA-STD-7001, NASA-STD-7002, GEVS, SMC-S-016, and launch provider user guides.
- Experience working in a small, fast-moving team where the same engineer predicts, tests, and correlates, and where analysis and test share ownership of the result.
- Clear technical communication skills for documenting assumptions, test rationale, and results across disciplines and with customers and launch providers.
Work Expectations
- This position requires regular onsite presence in Bothell, WA.
- This role is hands-on, balancing analysis work with active participation in test campaigns, and may include time in the lab, on the test floor, and at third-party test facilities.
- Occasional travel may be required during active test campaigns.
Pay Range $140K to $185K
Compensation and Benefits:
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
At Portal, your base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company equity at an exciting time of company growth as well as potential bonuses. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k)-retirement plan, paid parental leave, you may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 12 or more paid holidays per year as well as sick time.
ITAR Statement
This position may involve access to technical data and defense-related materials controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Eligibility to access ITAR-controlled items requires that candidates be U.S. persons, which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals as defined by U.S. law. Employment is contingent upon verification of ITAR eligibility and, where applicable, obtaining any required export authorization or license.
Equal Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
