Spacecraft Structure Engineer (gn) @ SpaceTech Venture, Lausanne

About the Venture

At PAVE Space, we're building the future of industry in orbit.
Our mission: enable true in-space mobility, access to any orbit within 24 hours.

To get there, we're designing, building, and testing a new kind of space vehicle from the ground up, one that redefines what's possible in space logistics and orbital access. We move fast. We think across disciplines. We act with precision.

We're not here to sugarcoat it: joining PAVE means stepping into a fast-paced, high-stakes environment where every contribution truly matters. We're a small team tackling big challenges, driven by sharp minds, strong work ethic, and the will to make things happen.

If you're looking for comfort, this isn't it. But if you want to help build a major space project from the ground up, it might be the ride of your life.

About the Role

Structure is where everything comes together, or falls apart.
As Spacecraft Structure Engineer, you'll own the mechanical backbone of our In-Orbit Demonstration spacecraft. This isn't about drawing pretty CAD. It's about making sure every subsystem has a home, every load path checks out, and the whole thing survives launch, maneuvers, and whatever space throws at it. You'll design the structure. You'll qualify it. You'll integrate it. And when it flies, you'll know every bolt, every weld, every interface intimately, because you built it.

This role is for someone who thinks in load paths and margin but talks in prototypes and test data. You're equally comfortable running FEM simulations and assembling hardware in the cleanroom. You don't wait for perfect information, xou make sound engineering decisions with what you have, then validate relentlessly.

What You'll Do

• Lead the mechanical design of the In-Orbit Demonstration spacecraft structure from concept through flight qualification.

• Execute design trades to define a robust, efficient mechanical architecture, then implement it.

• Ensure seamless integration of all spacecraft subsystems within the platform: propulsion, avionics, power, thermal.

• Support FEM development, execution, and analysis, turning models into confidence and data into decisions.

• Drive the structural qualification process through environmental testing (vibration, shock, thermal) to achieve full flight readiness.

• Get hands-on with prototyping iterations, spacecraft integration activities, and test campaigns.

• Provide technical leadership that accelerates the demonstrator's path to launch.

Who We're Looking For

• Proven experience in spacecraft structural design, integration, and testing, you've done this before, for real hardware.

• Deep proficiency in CAD tools (NX, Teamcenter), you know the workflows, the gotchas, the shortcuts.

• Solid understanding of the space environment and mechanical constraints, loads, thermal, vibration, materials. You've read the specs and lived the reality.

• Hands-on experience with prototype assembly, mechanical integration, and environmental qualification testing.

• Familiarity with test campaigns, vibration, shock, thermal, you know what breaks and why.

• FEM analysis experience is a strong plus.

• Excellent communication skills, you translate engineering complexity into clarity.

• Ability to thrive in a hardware startup, this isn't corporate space with 18-month review cycles.

• Clear English communication (French is a plus).

• Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent battle-tested experience.

What You'll Get

• Full ownership of the mechanical design of a spacecraft going to orbit, from first sketch to flight.

• Direct involvement in infrastructure development, testing, and mission-critical decisions.

• A front-row role in building one of Europe's most ambitious space ventures.

• A team that values high standards, ownership, and relentless curiosity.

• The velocity, autonomy, and purpose that come with building something that's never been done before.

• Career growth as we scale our engineering and operations teams.

Our Values

– Keep it simple
– Be brave, say what's wrong
– Set the bar high for yourself