Sr. Engineer, Actuators

Virgin Galactic is seeking a talented and motivated engineer with flight control actuation experience. You will work in a small team within the Flight Controls Department. The focus of the role is developing and qualifying electro-mechanical actuators for primary flight control of the spaceship vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Perform trade studies to determine actuator architectures, technologies, sizing, and performance.
• Create specifications for actuators, sensors, and subcomponents.
• Analyze actuator performance from system models and hardware test data.
• Interface with other engineering teams to integrate actuators into vehicle, including finding novel solutions to cross-discipline problems.
• Coordinate with supplier partners to design, qualify and produce actuators.
• Create test plans, procedures, and reports for actuator qualification.
• Manage verification, including environmental qualification, functional testing, endurance testing, and analysis.

Knowledge and Experience

• Must have a B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering discipline from an accredited university. M.S. degree or higher preferred.
• Experience with design and development of mechanical components and assemblies.

• Expertise with electromechanical actuator design, development, and qualification is preferred.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong technical writing skills for authoring engineering reports is a plus.

• Experience with supplier management.

• Experience with leading investigations and resolving component or system failures using standard root cause corrective action (RCCA) tools and methods.
• Engineering knowledge criteria:

• Strong foundational knowledge of mechanics of materials, vector mechanics, stress analysis, and machine design principles.

• Knowledge of MATLAB is a plus

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $105,700.00-$161,200.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit