The Aerostructures team is responsible for the design and manufacturing of the rocket’s structural elements, including the fins, outer sheath, nosecone, and thrust transfer structures.  While the other teams build individual components and systems, Aerostructures puts it all together into something flightworthy. 

Aerostructures works with all other teams throughout development to ensure that requirements for aspects like mounting, RF transparency, and loading are met. The team collaborates closely with Aerodynamics, who provide the expected forces on the rocket and optimise the external geometry. 

As a member of the aerostructures team, you’ll design mission-critical components; manufacture them from composites, metals, or plastics; test them in controlled conditions; and launch them on a real rocket.   

What to Expect 

There will be a wide variety of tasks throughout the year, however you can expect to do some of the following: 

• Create, design, and iterate on structural and aerodynamical geometry in Autodesk Inventor Professional. 

• Work closely with other teams—such as Avionics, Propulsion, and Recovery—to put their designs into the context of a larger vehicle. 

• Set up and run FEA simulations in Ansys. 

• Design, carry out, and analyse wind tunnel and structural tests. 

• Manufacture individual components through a variety of methods and assemble the whole airframe. 

• Attend test days to verify the useability of our design in practice, identify any pain points, and eliminate them.  

You will not be required to work a fixed number of hours per week and work will be planned around university and personal deadlines where possible.  You will however be expected to remain engaged, make consistent progress, and communicate on when you’ll be unavailable or when internal deadlines won’t be possible. 

What we’re Looking for 

Previous experience in rocketry is not required, and a lack of knowledge is not necessarily a reason not to apply.  We are particularly looking for people who are: 

• Willing to put in the time and effort to learn and develop their technical skills. 

• Proactive and willing to take ownership of their work and reactively solve problems as they arise. 

• Reliable, communicative, and able to work well as part of a team. 

Applications are welcome from students of all years.   

Relevant Skills 

Required: 

• CAD experience, preferably in Autodesk Inventor.  University CAD lessons are sufficient. 

• Knowledge of fundamental engineering and structural principles. 

Desired: 

• Experience with composite manufacturing and metal machining. 

• Experience with designing and running practical tests. 

• Experience working as a value adding part of a team. 

If you are unsure whether you will be a good candidate, apply.   Skills and knowledge can be taught and experience can be gained; the most important thing is a willingness to get stuck in and to put in the effort to learn and grow as an engineer.