Senior Loads and Dynamics Engineer - Aeroelastics and Rotordynamics
About The Position
In this role, you will use your aeroelasticity expertise to drive hardware and product design decisions. You will be responsible for the development and definition of aerodynamic and structural load envelopes, including setting and upholding analysis requirements, processes, and standards. You will conduct aeroelastic analyses and lead tight design-test-analysis loops to keep our delivery aircraft safe, light, and scalable. This role works closely with structures, aerodynamics, GNC, systems, and powertrain engineers to drive system level requirements and vehicle configuration decisions to achieve product level outcomes. How to know if it's you: Pencil and paper calculations are always your first step, you prefer simple and fast over detailed and large, and you’re excited to get hands on with hardware. On any given day you could be driving design trade studies, supporting flight tests to validate analysis, or working across disciplines to tackle complex system level challenges. Zipline was founded by engineers dedicated to making the world a better place. We are building a new global industry and are looking for a talented engineer who takes a hands-on approach and will use analysis to drive design. The ideal candidate will be someone who excels in a fast paced, dynamic environment and is excited to own and drive simple, elegant solutions to complex problems.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
- 7+ years of industry experience in loads and aeroelasticity
- Expertise in aircraft loads analysis, flutter, and structural dynamics
- Experience with aircraft Ground Vibration Test (GVT) planning and execution
- Deep knowledge of Zona, ZAERO, NASTRAN SOL144/145, or other aeroelasticity tools
- Experience with FEMAP/NASTRAN, Siemens Simcenter, or other finite element software
- Analytical/scientific programming experience (Python, MATLAB)
- Must-have traits: clear owner mentality with rapid decision cadence, tolerance for ambiguity and shifting configurations, disciplined documentation habits, and excellent hardware intuition
- Must be eligible to work in the US
Responsibilities
- Own aeroelasticity and flutter strategy for Zipline’s aircraft
- Own the development of full vehicle aerodynamic and structural load envelopes
- Perform loads and flutter analyses, including both quasi-static and dynamic cases
- Define program loads, aeroelastic, and aeroservoelastic requirements that support flight performance and vehicle safety
- Build finite element models for integrated loads and flutter analyses
- Conduct aeroelastic stability assessments, including divergence and control reversal checks
- Collaborate across hardware, software, and vehicle operations to drive aircraft configuration and performance decisions
- Evaluate static strength and fatigue life of aircraft structures using classical hand calculations and finite element analysis
- Execute flutter, loads, and modal testing from start-to-finish including pre-test analysis, instrumentation, testing, data analysis, signal processing and model correlation. Success will require a hands-on approach and quality time in wind tunnels, the vibration test lab, and on the flight line
- Level-up the engineering organization by providing mentorship, guidance, best practices, and building standardized in-house tools and processes
Benefits
- The starting salary range for this role is $150,000 - $215,000.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
