Senior Satellite Bus Structures Designer

The posting, as Portal Space Systems wrote it

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.

To build our spacecraft, we need experienced designers who can own the satellite bus structure and the vehicle-level physical definition that ties every subsystem together. This includes primary and secondary structures, the top-level CAD assembly, the full engineering bill of materials (EBOM), and spacecraft physical architecture.

As a Senior Satellite Bus Structures Designer, you will own the bus structure from initial architecture through detailed design, manufacturing, integration, qualification, and flight support. You will define load paths, equipment mounting, interfaces, packaging, and vehicle configuration while maintaining an accurate top-level digital definition of the satellite.

This is a hands-on hardware development role requiring close collaboration with structural and thermal analysis, avionics, guidance, navigation and control, propulsion, mechanisms, manufacturing, integration, test, systems engineering, and suppliers. You will be expected to move quickly, make sound engineering decisions, and own the physical vehicle configuration as the spacecraft evolves.

Responsibilities

• Own the lifecycle of satellite bus structural design, from requirements and interface definition through concept, detailed design, manufacturing, integration, verification, qualification, and flight support.
• Define primary and secondary structural architectures and load paths, including panels, decks, frames, brackets, equipment mounts, and major vehicle interfaces.
• Own spacecraft physical architecture and packaging, including subsystem placement, volume allocation, access, clearances, keep-outs, assembly sequence, and mechanical interfaces.
• Own and maintain the authoritative top-level spacecraft CAD assembly, ensuring subsystem models integrate correctly and represent the intended vehicle configuration.
• Own the complete satellite EBOM and keep CAD, PLM, part quantities, revisions, and the released spacecraft configuration aligned.
• Translate spacecraft requirements into structural and mechanical design criteria including strength, stiffness, dynamic response, alignment, interface loads, mass, envelope, and dimensional stability.
• Apply first-order calculations and simplified models, and work with structural and thermal analysts to size hardware, evaluate joints and load paths,

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ted, and bonded construction.

• Experience managing mass properties, coordinate systems, envelopes, clearances, and interface geometry within CAD.
• Experience supporting static, vibration, shock, and fit-check verification or qualification testing.
• Hands-on experience with aerospace hardware assembly, alignment, inspection, metrology, machining, and troubleshooting.
• Experience developing CAD, drawing, reusable-library, or configuration-management standards.

Pay Range: $145,000 - $205,000

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 (premiums paid by Portal 100%), 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.