Stress Analyst

Job Title: Stress Analyst

Job Description

This role focuses on performing advanced stress and dynamics analysis for high-reliability mechanical systems and components using finite element analysis (FEA), hand calculations, and sound engineering judgment. You will contribute to the mechanical design, analysis, and evaluation of complex systems, informing design, manufacturing, construction, and licensing strategies for advanced mechanical and clean energy systems. The position involves working with both metallic and non-metallic materials, developing mechanical concepts and processes, and ensuring that systems meet stringent technical specifications, industry codes, and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Execute mechanical design, analysis, and evaluation of assigned projects using sound engineering principles while adhering to established business standards, practices, procedures, and product or program requirements.
• Perform detailed structural analysis to inform the design, manufacturing, construction, and licensing strategies of advanced mechanical systems and high-reliability components.
• Use engineering tools, including FEA simulation software, hand calculations, and engineering judgment, to assess stress, deformation, degradation behavior, and lifetime mechanical performance of critical components.
• Develop mechanical and physical concepts, and support the development of processes to create or identify structures, systems, and components for use in high-reliability products or facilities.
• Identify, collect, and document applicable requirements, interfaces, design bases, and criteria by coordinating with key stakeholders and systems engineers, and by identifying applicable industry codes and standards.
• Plan and perform analyses required to assess mechanical systems and ensure they can perform their intended functions and meet technical specifications and design requirements.
• Perform computations using hand calculations and analytical tools for structural, thermal, hydraulic, and other scoping calculations as required, ensuring mechanical systems can meet technical requirements.
• Support assessment of mechanical systems and structures for manufacturability, as well as assembly and integration considerations, in collaboration with project leads.
• Write and develop design documentation, including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings, in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Develop verification and validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and support the qualification of the analysis toolset.
• Perform work in accordance with established quality procedures for design and configuration management to ensure project quality requirements are consistently met.
• Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables and data to support robust technical decision-making.
• Apply structural analysis and dynamics analysis methods to mechanical systems such as high-pressure vessels, fluid systems, reactors, boilers, gas turbines, combustion systems, rocket propulsion systems, heat exchangers, steam-driven systems, thermal systems, and advanced mechanism systems.
• Use standard industry FEA and mechanical analysis software programs to perform stress and dynamics analysis, and integrate results into product development and production decisions.
• Work through the product development lifecycle with actual hardware and mechanical systems, supporting development through to production and fabrication at advanced technology and manufacturing readiness levels.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams with diverse backgrounds to perform stress, strain, and deformation analyses that directly inform the design and production of physical systems and hardware.
• Contribute to design-analyze-build and manufacturing project execution, demonstrating leadership in coordinating analysis activities with design and fabrication efforts.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline from an accredited university or college.
• 5-10 years of engineering experience; graduate degrees may count as two or more years of experience.
• Hands-on experience with actual hardware and mechanical systems across the full product development lifecycle through to production and fabrication, at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or beyond and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 5 or 6 or higher.
• Experience in highly regulated industries such as aerospace, commercial aviation, medical devices, automotive, propulsion or rocketry, defense electronics, or other related regulated sectors.
• Strong background in mechanical systems structural analysis and/or dynamics analysis using standard industry FEA and mechanical analysis software programs.
• Analytical experience with structural analysis hand calculations and structural FEA software programs such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, NASTRAN, FEMAP, CAESAR, ROHR, LS-DYNA, and PIPESTRESS.
• Proficiency in stress analysis, stress calculations, and dynamics analysis, including structural dynamics.
• Experience working with multiple material types, including metallic and non-metallic materials and composites.
• Ability to perform structural, thermal, hydraulic, and other scoping calculations using hand calculations and analytical tools.
• Ability to identify and interpret applicable industry codes and standards for pressure-retaining components and support design, and to integrate these requirements into design and analysis activities.
• Demonstrated capability to produce clear technical documentation, including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings.
• Ability to work effectively on cross-disciplinary teams and to communicate complex analysis results to stakeholders in a clear and actionable manner.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with structural analysis of components for industrial applications, particularly in nuclear power plants.
• Highly preferred experience with structural analysis of creep range metallic and/or composite components operating in elevated temperature service.
• Experience applying codes and standards for pressure-retaining components and support design, including Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code sections and piping codes such as Section III (Division 1 or Division 5), Section VIII, and B31.1 / B31.3.
• Experience with high-reliability applications such as space systems, aerospace, aviation, and automotive components.
• background in new product development involving advanced mechanical systems and high-reliability hardware.
• Experience using FEA and mechanical analysis tools such as NASTRAN, FEMAP, LS-DYNA, and similar structural dynamics and stress analysis software.
• Demonstrated history of leading or significantly contributing to design-analyze-build and manufacturing projects, including coordination between analysis, design, and production teams.
• Experience supporting verification and validation (V&V) activities for analytical tools and qualifying analysis toolsets for use in high-consequence applications.
• Interest in or experience with clean energy systems and advanced small modular reactor technologies in a growing, investment-backed environment.

Work Environment

This position is based in an office environment, working with advanced engineering tools and simulation software to support the design and analysis of high-reliability mechanical and clean energy systems. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional engineering teams, engaging in detailed technical discussions and reviews in a professional setting. The organization is growing rapidly, driven by significant investment in cutting-edge clean energy systems development, offering opportunities to contribute to innovative projects and to grow with the company as it expands over the coming years. Typical work follows standard office hours, with a focus on technical excellence, rigorous quality procedures, and collaborative problem-solving.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Rockville, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $75.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Rockville,MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 24, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.