Senior Mechanical Structure Engineer

SAIC (Science Applications Int.) • San Bernardino, CA

87d • $80,001 - $120,000

About The Position

This role involves evaluating and estimating launch vehicle flight and mechanical ground support equipment loads; assessing mechanical design of vehicle components, subsystems, and handling equipment; evaluating load and mechanical stress analysis; overseeing proof load and flight acceptance load testing; processing, analyzing, and visualizing coupled loads and control bending modes analysis; reviewing requirements and tailoring performed by launch vehicle contractors; supporting hardware acceptance and pedigree reviews; producing analysis reports of test and post-flight data; and presenting analysis and predictions to a technical audience in formal and informal contexts. This role works in coordination with a multi-disciplinary team performing independent validation and verification (IV&V) on rocket launch vehicles to support launch programs on an aggressive schedule. This role may require significant travel (~25%) to support testing and reviews.

Requirements

• A BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related discipline and a minimum of five (5) years of applicable industry OR three (3) years and a MS degree from an ABET-accredited school.
• Experience with strain gage application and data evaluation using Matlab, NumPy/SciPy.
• Strong understanding of basic theory and application of principles of mechanical design and structural analysis including pressurized systems, modal analysis, discrete Fourier transform (DFT) frequency domain methods.
• Solid understanding of structural mechanics including non-linear stress/strain curves, fatigue and fracture analysis, corrosion mechanisms, thermal stress effects.
• Strong experience with structural analysis (both closed form and using finite element tools) with static and dynamic loading.
• A basic understanding of multiple engineering disciplines including aerofluids, dynamics, propulsion, GN&C, avionics and willingness to learn on the job.
• Practical experience working in an engineering environment including standard processes for evaluating engineering change proposals, reviewing technical analyses, supporting Design Reviews (SRR/PDR/CDR).
• Strong work ethic and self-motivated to learn tools and techniques in other technical areas.
• The ability to obtain a DoD SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance is mandatory (must be a US Citizen, no felony convictions or pending criminal indictments, et cetera).

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of applicable military and industry standards including MIL-STD-1540/SMC-S-016, AIAA S-110, AIAA S-114, SMC-S-013, AS9100.
• Experience with doing space launch vehicle component, subsystem, and payload structural and modal testing including evaluating test setup, 'notching', debugging test issues, et cetera.
• Experience with anomaly/failure analysis including the use of fault trees, failure modes and effects analysis, statistical failure estimation, et cetera.
• Experience with component development, reliability analysis, statistics, and aging surveillance testing.
• Ability to develop, document, and improve robust data processing and analysis tools using Python, Matlab, C, Fortran, or other languages.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and estimate launch vehicle flight and mechanical ground support equipment loads.
• Assess mechanical design of vehicle components, subsystems, and handling equipment.
• Evaluate load and mechanical stress analysis.
• Oversee proof load and flight acceptance load testing.
• Process, analyze, and visualize coupled loads and control bending modes analysis.
• Review requirements and tailoring performed by launch vehicle contractors.
• Support hardware acceptance and pedigree reviews.
• Produce analysis reports of test and post-flight data.
• Present analysis and predictions to a technical audience in formal and informal contexts.
• Coordinate with a multi-disciplinary team performing independent validation and verification (IV&V) on rocket launch vehicles.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees