About the job

As a Lead Stress Engineer at Orbex, you will take a technical leadership role within the flight structures team, focusing on the structural analysis, failure mode assessment, and support for testing of the Orbex Prime launch vehicle. You will be responsible for performing, validating, and documenting structural analysis using both hand calculations and industry-standard FEA packages for composite and metallic components and assemblies, ensuring designs meet stringent aerospace performance and safety requirements. Working closely with the design team, you will iterate concepts using sizing, optimization, and a ‘design by analysis’ approach, translating high-level requirements into detailed analysis and test plans. You will provide practical support to hardware development and testing, including static testing and failure mode analysis, while managing multiple concurrent workstreams under pressure. The role requires proficiency in FEA software such as FEMAP, Nastran, Hypermesh, or Optistruct, experience with CAD systems for geometry preparation, and strong communication and teamwork skills. Desirable expertise includes composite structural analysis for space or aerospace applications, highly loaded mechanical and adhesively bonded joints, linear and non-linear analysis, thermo-elastic, buckling, modal, sinusoidal, and random vibration methodologies, design and analysis of COPVs or composite pressure structures, design optimization workflows, and familiarity with aerospace industry standards like MIL-HDBK-5/17, ECSS-E-HB-32, NASA-STD-5001, and structural references such as ESDU, Bruhn, or Nui. You will also contribute to materials characterization, allowable development, and testing strategies to ensure mass-efficient and reliable structural performance. Based on-site at Orbex’s headquarters in Forres, Scotland, this role offers the unique opportunity to work in a cutting-edge aerospace environment, close to both production and test facilities, while enjoying the surrounding Highlands and coast for outdoor pursuits. Orbex provides full visa sponsorship and comprehensive relocation support for you and your family, including accommodation, a relocation allowance, and guidance through the visa process, making this an exceptional opportunity for qualified aerospace engineers seeking hands-on leadership experience in micro-launch vehicle development.