Job Description

Senior Structural Analysis Engineer

We are seeking a Senior Structural Analysis Engineer to support the design, evaluation, modification, and certification of complex aircraft structures and integrated aerospace systems. This position focuses on the structural analysis and substantiation of metallic and composite hardware used in large-aircraft modification programs. The role requires expertise in static and dynamic analysis, finite element modeling, and classical hand calculations to author structural substantiation reports. The engineer will work within multidisciplinary teams to provide defensible engineering conclusions throughout the design, modification, certification, and production lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analysis of complex metallic and composite aircraft structures.
• Conduct static and dynamic analysis using finite element methods and classical engineering calculations.
• Develop, modify, review, and validate finite element models.
• Evaluate structural components, assemblies, interfaces, joints, and load paths.
• Assess margins of safety for applicable failure modes.
• Support structural design and development throughout the product lifecycle.
• Evaluate structural modifications associated with large-aircraft integration and mission-system installation.
• Perform or support fatigue and damage tolerance analysis when required.
• Analyze metallic and composite structures using appropriate analytical methods.
• Prepare structural substantiation reports, analysis summaries, and certification documentation.
• Support technical and design reviews by presenting analysis methods, assumptions, results, and risks.
• Collaborate with structural designers, stress engineers, systems engineers, manufacturing engineers, test personnel, and certification stakeholders.
• Provide recommendations related to material selection, hardware selection, structural configuration, and manufacturability.
• Support correlation of analytical models with test results when applicable.
• Review drawings, models, interface definitions, and proposed engineering changes for structural impact.
• Identify structural risks and recommend corrective actions or design changes.
• Maintain analysis files and engineering records in accordance with configuration-control requirements.
• Support production and manufacturing teams when structural questions or nonconformances arise.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Typically 10 or more years of relevant structural engineering or structural analysis experience.
• Advanced knowledge of static and dynamic structural analysis.
• Strong understanding of engineering principles, structural mechanics, material behavior, and load paths.
• Experience with computer-aided engineering and structural simulation tools.
• Ability to perform finite element analysis.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary design and development teams.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to independently evaluate complex engineering problems and defend analytical conclusions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Structural analysis experience involving large aircraft, aircraft modifications, special-mission aircraft, or military aircraft.
• Aerospace and defense industry experience.
• Proficiency with MSC Nastran, MSC Patran, FEMAP, or ANSYS.
• Fatigue and damage tolerance analysis experience.
• NASGRO or AFGROW experience.
• Experience performing classical analysis using industry-standard hand calculations.
• Experience authoring structural substantiation or certification reports.
• Metallic and composite structural analysis experience.
• Knowledge of parametric design and model-based definition.
• Familiarity with aircraft material and hardware selection.
• Understanding of aerospace manufacturing and production processes.
• Experience supporting structural test planning, test correlation, or certification activities.
• Experience working with aircraft-level loads, local loads, and load-path development.
• Familiarity with structural modifications involving mission equipment, antennas, sensors, electronic systems, or payload integration.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in a professional engineering environment located in Englewood, Colorado. The engineer will spend much of the workday performing analysis, reviewing technical data, creating documentation, participating in technical meetings, and collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams. The role may also require occasional presence in manufacturing, integration, laboratory, hangar, or test areas to inspect structures, understand installation conditions, resolve production questions, or support testing. There is only rare exposure to outdoor conditions, hazardous materials, fumes, or loud noise. Physical activity may include regular walking, sitting, standing, climbing stairs, and repetitive hand or finger motion associated with computer-based engineering work. Lifting or carrying up to 25 pounds is expected only rarely.

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