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.

Position Summary

The Senior Loads & Dynamics Engineer owns the structural dynamic environment for Portal spacecraft, from predicting it to proving it on the shaker table and in the acoustic chamber. This engineer develops launch and in-space loads, builds and correlates dynamic models, and defines and leads vibration, acoustic, and low-frequency test campaigns that verify the vehicle against its predicted environments. The role sits at the seam between analysis and test: the ideal candidate writes the pre-test prediction, runs the test, and closes the loop with correlated models and verified margins. This engineer works closely with structures, design, vehicle test, propulsion, avionics, and launch integration teams to ensure the vehicle and its components survive and perform through every dynamic environment from ground handling through launch and on-orbit operations.

Responsibilities

Loads & Dynamics Analysis

Develop, maintain, and own the spacecraft dynamic finite element models and reduced-order models used for loads, modal, and response analyses, with configuration control.
Perform coupled loads analysis (CLA) with launch vehicle provider models, including liftoff, transonic, max-q, MECO/staging, and separation events, and manage launch provider interface and loads-cycle deliverables.
Derive and maintain limit, design, and qualification load factors, interface loads, and component-level random vibration, sine, shock, and acoustic environments, including mass-acceleration curves and preliminary load cycles in early design.
Perform modal, frequency response, random vibration, shock response, and transient analyses to predict structural and component response and support margin of safety assessments.
Perform vibroacoustic analysis (FE/BEM and/or statistical energy analysis) to predict acoustic and acoustically induced vibration environments for panels, appendages, and lightweight structures.
Assess low-frequency dynamics, including primary structural modes, sine and quasi-static launch environments, pogo and propellant slosh interaction, and coupling between structure and propulsion or control systems.
Support design trades through dynamic assessment of stiffness, mass distribution, mounting, isolation, and damping strategies.

Dynamic Test Planning & Execution

Define the dynamic test strategy for components, subsystems, and the integrated vehicle, including modal survey, sine, random vibration, sine-burst, shock, and acoustic testing, with test levels derived from analysis and launch provider requirements.
Write test plans, test requirements, and procedures, and provide pre-test analytical predictions, including response predictions, expected modal frequencies, and notching and force-limiting strategies.
Define test setups, including fixture and adapter design requirements, control and response accelerometer placement, instrumentation, boundary conditions, and abort limits.
Lead and execute vibration, acoustic, and low-frequency tests at Portal and at third-party facilities, serving as test lead or test conductor and working alongside shaker, chamber, and data acquisition operators.
Perform on-the-spot data review during testing, including transfer function review, signature sweeps, and pre/post-test low-level sine surveys, to detect shifts in frequency or damping and make real-time test decisions.