About the Role:
We are looking for a Head of Analysis to build and lead the analysis organization within our Launch & Propulsion division. Reporting to the Head of Launch & Propulsion, you will be the technical authority for all analytical substantiation of our engines and vehicle structures-owning the methods, tools, standards, and team that produce the structural, thermal, and fluid dynamics analyses underpinning every design decision and flight-readiness argument. You will set the margins philosophy, define what "analyzed" means for this program, develop the toolchain that lets your team move at hardware speed, and build a world-class group of analysts who can substantiate aggressive designs with confidence and rigor.
Responsibilities:- Define and own the analysis philosophy for the program: factors of safety, margin policy, model fidelity requirements, and the standards that govern when a design is analytically cleared for build, test, and flight.
- Develop the analysis-versus-test strategy with other leaders to make hardware within a high-test cadence understood and safe.
- Build, lead, and develop a team of structural, thermal, and CFD analysts; establish roles, hire across experience levels, set career paths, and create a culture of analytical rigor when needed paired with engineering speed.
- Lead structural analysis efforts across engines and vehicle systems-static strength, fatigue, fracture, buckling, dynamics, and life assessment-ensuring methods are appropriate to failure mode, hardware criticality, and program phase.
- Lead thermal analysis for propulsion components (combustion devices, turbomachinery, nozzles, valves, etc) and vehicle systems (cryogenic insulation, TPS, avionics thermal management); define thermal models, boundary conditions, and correlation strategies.
- Lead CFD efforts for internal and external flow: combustion modeling, injector analysis, nozzle performance, aerodynamic heating, base environments, and fluid system flow characterization.
- Develop and maintain the analysis toolchain-commercial codes (such as ANSYS, Fluent, others), in-house solvers, automated workflows, and AI/ML-augmented methods-to enable rapid iteration and keep analysis cadence matched to design cadence.
- Establish and analysis documentation standards: model descriptions, assumptions registers, verification and validation (V&V) evidence, and margin-of-safety reporting formats that support design reviews and flight-readiness arguments.
- Own the correlation of analytical predictions with test and flight data; drive model updates when predictions diverge from reality, and maintain a lessons-learned database that prevents repeated errors.
- Coordinate with design, test, manufacturing, and mission assurance teams to ensure analysis products arrive on schedule, inform design trades early, and close action items from reviews without bottlenecking hardware flow.
- Present analysis substantiation at program milestones (PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR); represent the analysis organization to leadership, customers, and certification authorities with clarity and technical authority.
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering field
- 10+ years of experience in structural, thermal, or fluid dynamics analysis for aerospace or propulsion hardware, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership role managing a team of analysts.
- Deep expertise in at least one analysis domain (structural, thermal, or CFD) with strong working knowledge of the other two-sufficient to set standards, review work, and make judgment calls across disciplines.
- Proven ability to define analysis methodologies, factors of safety, and margin policies for flight hardware programs; experience substantiating designs through analysis for qualification and flight certification.
- Proficiency with analysis software tools (e.g., ANSYS, Fluent, Star-CCM+, Nastran, Abaqus, Thermal Desktop, Sinda)
- Experience onboarding analysis software tools and infrastructure and building or directing automated analysis workflows.
- Track record of building and scaling an analysis team: hiring, mentoring, establishing processes, onboarding analysis tools, and delivering high-quality analysis products on aggressive schedules.
- Strong communication skills: ability to present complex analytical results clearly at design reviews, defend margins and assumptions to chief engineers, and translate analysis findings into actionable design guidance.
Preferred Qualifications:- Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering field
- Direct experience analyzing rocket engines or propulsion components: combustion chambers, nozzles, turbopumps, injectors, or hot-gas manifolds-including coupled thermal-structural assessment under extreme temperature gradients and pressure loads.
- Experience defining and executing model correlation campaigns using test data (strain gauges, thermocouples, DIC, modal survey); demonstrated ability to update models based on empirical results and quantify residual uncertainty.
- Background in developing in-house analysis tools, parametric solvers, or AI/ML-augmented analysis methods (surrogate models, reduced-order models, automated meshing, or optimization loops) to accelerate the design-analysis cycle.
- Familiarity with fracture mechanics, damage tolerance, and life-management programs for reusable propulsion and vehicle hardware (NASA-STD-5019, NASGRO, or equivalent).
- Knowledge of relevant analysis and material standards: MMPDS/CMH-17 for allowables, NASA-STD-5001 for structural design, JANNAF for propulsion environments, and AIAA verification/validation guidelines.
Compensation and BenefitsThe salary range for this position is
$220,000 - $272,373 annually.
The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.- Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
- Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Paid time off
- 10 paid holidays per calendar year
- Paid parental leave
- Relocation assistance if applicable
- Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks
