Senior Staff Structural Analyst - Spacecraft Engineering

About IonQ:

IonQ, Inc . [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance .

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.

About Capella

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthen global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations.

Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

Location: This role will be based onsite at our San Francisco, CA office. Travel: Up to 10%, domestic or international. Job ID: 1784

The Role

Capella, an IonQ company, is seeking an experienced Structural Analyst to advance our structural analysis capabilities supporting the design, development, and qualification of spacecraft and flight hardware. In this role, you will lead complex finite element analysis (FEA) and structural dynamics efforts, developing high-fidelity models to evaluate spacecraft performance under launch, vibration, shock, and operational environments. You'll help refine our analysis tools, establish standardized methodologies, and work closely with design, manufacturing, systems, and test teams to support engineering decisions and mission success. We welcome candidates with experience in spacecraft, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, missile systems, and related aerospace applications.

Responsibilities

Lead structural analyses for spacecraft, payloads, and associated flight hardware.

Develop, maintain, and correlate high-fidelity finite element models for static, dynamic, thermal, and nonlinear analyses.

Perform structural dynamics analyses, including modal, frequency response, random vibration, shock, and acoustic loading.

Generate structural loads, dynamic environments, and margins of safety to support hardware design and qualification.

Develop and validate vehicle-level structural models, including reduced-order models when required for launch vehicle interfaces.

Support structural qualification testing through pre-test predictions, test planning, and post-test correlation.

Partner with design, manufacturing, systems, and test teams to resolve structural issues and guide engineering decisions.

Establish standardized analysis methodologies, prepare technical documentation, and mentor engineers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.

5+ years of structural analysis experience supporting aerospace, spacecraft, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, or comparable flight hardware.

Advanced proficiency with NASTRAN and finite element modeling, including model development, analysis, and correlation.

Experience with FEA pre/post-processing tools such as FEMAP, Patran, HyperMesh, or equivalent.

Strong knowledge of structural dynamics, vibration, shock, modal analysis, and aerospace structural design.

Experience evaluating metallic or composite structures under static and dynamic loading conditions.

Strong technical judgment, communication skills, and ability to collaborate across engineering teams.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here .

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience supporting spacecraft or satellite structural analysis.

Experience with Craig-Bampton component mode synthesis, reduced-order modeling, or coupled loads analysis.

Experience with MATLAB, Python, ANSYS, ABAQUS, or similar engineering analysis tools.

The total compensation package includes base salary, bonus, equity, and a range of benefits available on our career site.

If this role has a commission structure, the compensation range below just reflects the base compensation range.

Wage Transparency: $192,979 — $276,722 USD

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401(k), unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!