Specialist Engineer, Systems Analysis
About The Position
Virgin Galactic is seeking a Specialist Engineer, Systems Analysis with extensive experience in subsonic, transonic and supersonic aircraft aerodynamics (with a specific emphasis on stability and control), external loads, and flight test. The candidate will build on an intimate knowledge of spaceplane systems as well as air launch vehicles. This person will support vehicle performance and handling quality activities, instrumentation planning, data processing, model evaluation for flight testing and vehicle envelope expansion with a focus on external loads development for spaceship and launch vehicle. Our goal is to deliver a transformative experience that changes the way people look at the planet and their place in it.
Requirements
- Requires a minimum of 12 years of experience
- Deep understanding of subsonic, transonic and supersonic aircraft aerodynamics
- Deep understanding of aircraft stability and control methods and tools including vehicle dynamics 6-DOF modeling, parameter identification and aerodynamic derivative database development
- Experience planning, executing and supporting ground and flight test campaigns specific to stability and control, loads, and overall vehicle flight dynamics evaluation
- Verifiable track record as a stability and control, and/or external loads subject matter expert on one or more notable aerospace vehicle programs
- Experiences in flight test aerodynamic and loads model validation and correlation
- Working knowledge of aircraft and spacecraft systems
- Experience with flight dynamics 6DOF trajectory simulation
- Familiarity with relevant aerospace standards and structural design criteria (FAA, FAA-AST, NASA, MilSpec, etc.)
- Advanced programming skills: MATLAB, Python, to include software development best practices like code review and configuration management
- Proven ability to work in a team environment
- Excellent proactive communication (oral, written, presentation), interpersonal, negotiation and organizational skills
Nice To Haves
- Advanced programming skills: MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C, and C++
- Experience with relevant computational physics codes, CFD, FEA
- FAA pilot certificate
- Experience with flight test instrumentation
- Test planning experience including flight and ground testing, writing test plans, instrumentation selection and planning, and data verification
- Experience with full aircraft analysis
- Test execution experience including familiarity with standard flight test practices and safety processes
- Champion innovations through new technologies and drives innovation of leading-edge products and solutions that provide company with a competitive advantage
Responsibilities
- Support loads event simulation model development and validation of loads criteria for suborbital space missions and other unconventional configurations
- Substantiate vehicle performance and handling qualities
- Support entry into commercial service by ensuring that regulatory and internal company requirements related to loads, performance, handling qualities and general airworthiness are met
- Support pre-flight preparation including review of test limitations, flight test plans and procedures, flight readiness reviews, mission control room support, and post flight analysis
- Integrate with other internal and external engineering groups to ensure proper application of design and loads requirements
- Develop airframe and component loads for structural design and qualification (Static and Dynamic)
- Develop standardized analysis and reporting tools by using advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts.
- Develop and substantiate rational loads criteria and requirements for unique vehicles with unconventional configurations
- Perform model updates from data collected during vehicle or component testing and data created with analytical tools
- Develop and improve standards, processes, and best practices for System Analysis team
- Lead design or analysis of new products, systems, or processes
- Leads effective cross functional teams to solve complex problems and helps other team members and teams be successful
- Leads projects, peers, and teams to make engineering decisions and recommendations
- Meets commitments and executes plan
- Actively mentors and coaches others
Benefits
- full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Industry
Support Activities for Transportation
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
