Aircraft Structural Analysis Engineer
Location: Newport News, VAJob Type: Contract-to-HireStarting Pay: $55/hour; higher pay may be available based on experience
Position Overview
We are seeking an Aircraft Structural Analysis Engineer to support aircraft modification, repair, integration, and certification projects. This position focuses on evaluating aircraft structures and mechanical installations for strength, stiffness, fatigue, damage tolerance, vibration, and overall airworthiness.
The engineer will create structural analyses and technical documentation used to support design decisions, aircraft modifications, repairs, testing, and certification. The role involves collaboration with engineering, design, electrical, certification, production, quality, and other project teams.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited college or university.
- Experience performing structural analysis and engineering substantiation for aircraft, aerospace products, mechanical systems, or related structures.
- Knowledge of structural mechanics, materials, fatigue, damage tolerance, vibration, FEA, classical hand calculations, and engineering evaluation methods.
- Experience preparing stress reports, engineering analyses, margin of safety calculations, and compliance documentation.
- Strong analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to work in both office and aircraft hangar environments.
- U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status.
- Familiarity with aerospace materials, manufacturing processes, fastener systems, composite structures, and aircraft structural repair practices.
- Experience with engineering analysis software such as ANSYS, FEMAP, NASTRAN, Abaqus, Mathcad, or equivalent tools.
- Experience working with customers, DERs, FAA representatives, OEMs, suppliers, or certification authorities.
- Familiarity with configuration management, engineering release procedures, and aerospace quality systems such as AS9100.
Preferred Experience
- 5+ years supporting aircraft modification, repair, integration, or aerospace product development.
- Experience with FAA certification, STC programs, military airworthiness, or other regulated aerospace projects.
- Familiarity with MIL-HDBK-516C and military aircraft modification programs.
- Experience conducting static strength, fatigue, damage tolerance, vibration, thermal, or finite element analyses.
- Experience preparing engineering reports, substantiation packages, compliance documentation, test plans, and certification support materials.
- Experience supporting aircraft production, modification, installation, ground testing, or flight test activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform structural evaluations and develop substantiation for aircraft modifications, repairs, and certification efforts.
- Conduct static strength, fatigue, damage tolerance, vibration, thermal, FEA, and other analyses as required.
- Establish structural load paths, free-body diagrams, analytical models, assumptions, and supporting calculations.
- Prepare stress reports, engineering reports, margin of safety calculations, compliance data, and technical documentation.
- Evaluate designs, drawings, and proposed modifications for structural integrity, manufacturability, maintainability, safety, and compliance.
- Work with engineering, design, electrical, certification, production, quality, and external teams to resolve structural issues.
- Support certification documentation, compliance activities, test planning, and regulatory/customer approvals.
- Provide engineering assistance during fabrication, assembly, installation, troubleshooting, testing, and aircraft modification.
- Participate in design reviews and provide recommendations related to structural integrity, performance, reliability, maintainability, and safety.
- Maintain analyses and technical records under configuration control and follow applicable engineering standards and procedures.
- Contribute to improvements in analysis methods, design standards, processes, and lessons learned.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Engineering Manager.