Specialist, Structural Engineering

L3Harris Technologies•Rancho Cordova, CA

12d•$88,500 - $164,500•Onsite

About The Position

L3Harris Missile Solutions is seeking a Specialist Engineer – Structures in Sacramento, California. The role provides structural engineering support within a production environment, working alongside Manufacturing and Quality Engineering teams to disposition nonconformances on flight-critical solid rocket motor (SRM) hardware. The engineer evaluates hardware conditions against design requirements and structural margins, supporting decisions that maintain structural performance and safety while meeting production needs. The position applies finite element and closed-form structural analysis to nonconforming metallic, solid propellant, and composite SRM components. It also involves interpreting CAD models, as-built geometry, and X-ray images; documenting disposition rationale; collaborating with cross-functional teams and customers when needed; and feeding recurring findings back to design and manufacturing teams. The role contributes to improving internal disposition tools, templates, and analysis automation. Candidates must be able to obtain a U.S. Secret clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of relevant structural engineering experience; or a graduate degree and at least 2 years of related experience; or at least 8 years of related experience in lieu of a degree.
Must be able to obtain a U.S. Secret-level clearance.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, with relevant structural analysis experience and exposure to production or manufacturing-support environments.
Experience supporting nonconformance disposition, MRB activities, or production structural engineering on aerospace or defense hardware.
Experience in linear, nonlinear, and dynamic structural analysis supporting design, qualification, or production of solid rocket motors.
Proficiency with FEA tools such as ANSYS Mechanical; experience with ANSYS MAPDL or Python scripting is highly desirable.
Ability to make sound, defensible engineering disposition decisions under schedule pressure in a production environment.
Working knowledge of structural instabilities, material nonlinearities, and coupled load environments.
Exposure to the full lifecycle of aerospace SRM propulsion product development, from design through manufacturing, test, and production.

Responsibilities

Evaluate and disposition critical nonconformances on SRM production hardware, coordinating Use-As-Is, Repair, Rework, or Reject decisions with Manufacturing and Quality Engineering.
Perform finite element and closed-form structural analyses to assess nonconforming hardware, including dimensional deviations, material anomalies, process escapes, and manufacturing-induced defects.
Build and execute finite element models using ANSYS and ABAQUS, with appropriate isotropic, orthotropic, and viscoelastic material definitions and nonlinear or temperature-dependent properties as required.
Collaborate daily with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Engineering on the production floor and during Material Review Board activities.
Interpret solid CAD models, as-built hardware geometry, and X-ray images to characterize conditions and develop analysis models.
Prepare disposition rationale packages, stress notes, and engineering dispositions that meet internal review standards and applicable customer and regulatory requirements.
Identify recurring nonconformance trends and communicate findings to design and manufacturing teams to support root-cause resolution and design or process improvements.
Contribute to internal tools, disposition templates, and analysis automation to improve the efficiency and consistency of the nonconformance disposition process.
Provide timely structural engineering input while maintaining engineering integrity and supporting production flow.