AEROSPACE · DEFENSE · ROBOTICS · AUTOMOTIVE

Structural Design.
Analysis.
Confidence
to fabricate.

Gravissist is the embedded front-end structural engineering team for hardware startups — delivering rapid analysis cycles from concept through CDR at a fraction of large-firm rates, powered by automation and AI-assisted workflows.

Start a project → See our work ↓
10+
Years experience
Spaceflight hardware analysis and qualification. Senior-level — no junior hand-off.
CDR
Milestone coverage
Concept through Critical Design Review. Clear scope, clean handoff to your test team.
AI+
Accelerated delivery
Proprietary automation and AI-assisted workflows compress the cycle without cutting corners.
Stress Analysis Loads & Dynamics Vehicle-Level FEM Modal Analysis HCB Reduction Fatigue & Fracture Model Correlation Test Plan Dev NASA STD 5002 MIL-STD-810 SMC-S-016 Nastran Python Automation SQL Load DB Git CM Stress Analysis Loads & Dynamics Vehicle-Level FEM Modal Analysis HCB Reduction Fatigue & Fracture Model Correlation Test Plan Dev NASA STD 5002 MIL-STD-810 SMC-S-016 Nastran Python Automation SQL Load DB Git CM
WHAT WE DELIVER

Front-end engineering, end to end.

We run rapid design and analysis cycles so your hardware team has the data they need to build with confidence — concept through CDR. No test execution. No qualification. Just the analysis that gets you there.

01 — STRUCTURAL

Stress Analysis

Static, dynamic, buckling, and fatigue analysis across metallic, plastic, and composite materials. Classical hand analysis and large-model FEA with a clean configuration management trail throughout.

NASA STD 5001 5019 / 5020 SSP 30559
02 — DYNAMICS

Loads & Dynamics

Vehicle-level FEM development, flow-down loads derivation, modal analysis, frequency / random / transient response. Hurty-Craig-Bampton reductions, vibration response with force limiting and notching.

NASA STD 5002 MIL-STD-810 NASA RP 1403
03 — FRACTURE

Fatigue & Fracture

Fatigue life analysis and fracture mechanics assessment for metallic and composite structures. Damage assessments for COTS and recently acquired flight hardware with full health tracking via our loads data management system.

NASGRO Fatigue Life Damage Assessment
04 — TEST PREP

Model Correlation & Test Plans

Pre-test modal analysis, vibration spectrum development, accelerometer and strain gauge placement recommendations. Detailed static and dynamic test plan documentation ready for handoff to your test team.

GVT Support Pretest Analysis Test Strategy
05 — TOOLING

Workflow Automation

Scalable automation pipelines that reduce bottlenecks and compress engineering cycle time. Load magnitude derivation and maintenance in a live SQL database. GIT-controlled model history and documentation throughout.

Python / Nastran SQL DB Git CM
06 — MANAGEMENT

Engineering Project Management

From roadmap to execution — ensuring engineering efforts align with business goals. We embed best practices, frameworks, and tools into your workflows. Our success metric is when you no longer need us.

Roadmapping Trade Studies Team Mentoring
SELECTED WORK

Projects we've delivered.

Real programs. Actual deliverables. The kind of analysis that moves hardware from CAD into fabrication.

Mass Properties Envelope
PROJECT 01 — SPACECRAFT

Mass Properties Envelope

Given a spacecraft with a loose architecture, we established bounding mass properties to set program requirements across all teams. Using frequency response analysis, Python with Nastran, and statistical methods, we identified patterns for stable mass distributions to bound expected interface loads at critical locations.

FEM Freq. Response Python / Nastran
Hardware Re-Certification
PROJECT 02 — PRIMARY STRUCTURE

Hardware Re-Certification

Customer needed to determine whether existing manufactured primary structure could fly a second mission. We performed dynamic loads development and stress analysis to create mass and stiffness requirements for the vehicle architecture, then validated against existing stress reports to certify the structure for re-use.

Stress Analysis Dynamic Loads Re-Certification
Payload Loads Databooks
PROJECT 03 — LAUNCH VEHICLE

Payload Loads Databooks

Managed 10+ loads databook iterations for flow-down load derivation across all conops — ground through flight and on-orbit. Delivered reduced FEM (coarsened stick model + HCB), vibration response with notching per NASA RP 1403, cutloads, netcg, PSD/FRF tracking, and airtight GIT documentation with a live SQL database.

HCB Reduction NASA RP 1403 SQL DB Git CM
Document Review
PROJECT 04 — COTS / FLIGHT HARDWARE

Structural Analysis Document Review

Multiple document reviews for establishing hardware limits on COTS and recently acquired flight hardware — from loads and conops through fatigue and damage assessments. Maintained an efficient documentation trail for monitoring structural health via our loads data management system.

Fatigue Assessment COTS Hardware Health Tracking
ABOUT GRAVISSIST

10+ years of spaceflight hardware experience.

Gravissist delivers the structural and mechanical engineering horsepower that early-stage hardware programs need — without the overhead of a large consulting firm.

Our team has delivered analysis, test correlation, and design support on complex programs where precision, reliability, and scalability are non-negotiable. We've worked programs from concept all the way through qualification, and we know exactly how to move fast on the front end without creating problems downstream.

We target aerospace, defense, automotive, and robotics startups — teams at the seed to Series B stage where every engineering dollar has to count. Our automation-first approach and AI-assisted workflows are how we deliver senior-quality work at a fraction of traditional rates.

The name Gravissist is a play on gravity assist — the orbital mechanics maneuver where a spacecraft uses a planet's gravity to accelerate toward its destination while conserving fuel. That's what we do for your program: give you the early push that gets you to fabrication faster, while saving you the money you need to actually build the thing.

01
Loads & Dynamics
Vehicle-level FEMs, flow-down loads derivation, modal analysis, dynamic test correlation
02
Structural Analysis
Stress analysis, static/dynamic/buckling/fatigue, subsystem qualification workflows
03
Mechanical Design Leadership
Integration with design teams, manufacturing coordination, lifecycle support
04
Workflow Automation
Scalable processes and tools that reduce bottlenecks and improve engineering efficiency
05
Configuration Management
GIT model history, live SQL load database, clean documentation trail throughout
06
Process Architecture
Scalable engineering systems, repeatable processes, team training and mentoring
COMPLIANCE
NASA-STD-5001 NASA-STD-5002 NASA-STD-5019 NASA-STD-5020 SSP 30559 JSC 65828 / 65829 MIL-STD-810 SMC-S-016 NASA RP 1403
HOW WE WORK

Concept to CDR.
Then you run.

We embed as your front-end mechanical engineering team — running the full analysis cycle so your hardware team has the confidence to move into fabrication.

Our scope is deliberate: concept requirements through Critical Design Review. We deliver structural modeling, load derivation, analysis packages, and test plans. We stop before test execution and hardware qualification — that's a clean boundary that keeps your program in control and our engagements lean.

This focused scope is what makes us fast and affordable. We're built for the rapid iteration cadence of early-stage programs, not the slow drumbeat of a large prime contractor.

PHASE 01 — IN SCOPE
Concept & requirements
Load environment definition, structural concept assessment, preliminary sizing, mass estimates and properties bounding.
PHASE 02 — IN SCOPE
Preliminary design (PDR)
FEM build, initial stress and loads analysis, rapid design iteration with analysis-driven recommendations, standards compliance mapping.
PHASE 03 — MILESTONE
Critical design review (CDR)
Final analysis packages, model correlation, detailed test plans with GSE analysis — ready for fabrication go-ahead.
PHASE 04 — HANDOFF
Test execution & qualification
Physical testing and hardware qualification are handed off to your team. We produce the plan and set them up for success.
WHY GRAVISSIST

Built for teams that can't
afford to move slowly.

01 — COST

Startup-priced, senior-quality

Large consulting firms charge enterprise rates for enterprise overhead. We charge a fraction — because our automation-first approach eliminates the inefficiency, not the engineering rigor.

02 — SPEED

AI-assisted, automation-driven

We've built internal automation tools and AI-assisted analysis workflows that compress the cycle. Faster turnaround means more design iterations before your review gates — not fewer corners cut.

03 — DEPTH

10+ years, spaceflight hardware

Structural analysis and loads & dynamics experience on programs where precision and reliability are non-negotiable. Every deliverable comes from engineers who've run programs from concept through qualification.

04 — FOCUS

Clear scope, clean handoffs

We deliver analysis packages and test plans your test team can run without dependency on us. The deliberate CDR scope boundary is intentional — it keeps your program in control and our engagements lean.

05 — MENTORSHIP

We leave your team stronger

We embed best practices, frameworks, and tools into your workflows as we go. Our success metric is when you no longer need us — when your team can run complex programs without outside support.

06 — COMPLIANCE

Standards built in, not bolted on

NASA STD 5001/5002/5019/5020, MIL-STD-810, SSP 30559, JSC 65828/65829, SMC-S-016, NASA RP 1403. Compliance built in from day one — not audited in at the end.

PRICING

Transparent rates.
No surprises.

Hourly or fixed-fee by project scope. Fixed pricing available for well-defined SOW deliverables with clear acceptance criteria. All engagements Net-30.

Structural engineering
from $100/hr
  • Classical hand analysis
  • FEA — metallic, plastic, composites
  • Static, dynamic, buckling, fatigue
  • Fracture mechanics
  • Design iteration support
Loads & dynamics
from $125/hr
  • Vehicle-level FEM
  • Nastran bulk data, large includes
  • HCB reduction, freq/random/transient
  • Modal pretest analysis
  • Test plan documentation
Process engineering
from $150/hr
  • Process design & rollout
  • Team training
  • Automation pipelines
  • Workflow standardization
General consulting
from $100/hr
  • Technical writing
  • Peer reviews
  • Document review & comparison
  • Project coordination

Travel & expenses reimbursed separately. NASGRO license provided by client. Fixed-fee available for detailed SOW. Net-30 terms.

Ready to build?
We give you the push.

Tell us what you're building and where you are in the program. We'll scope it and get back to you within 24 hours.

hello@gravissist.com →

Get in touch

www.gravissist.com
hello@gravissist.com
Response within 24 hours
Kickoff meeting to determine SOW followed by detailed implementation plan
Based in Texas · Remote-first
Best fit: hardware teams at seed through Series B
in aerospace, defense, robotics, or automotive —
programs where the engineering needs to be
enterprise-grade but the budget isn't yet there.