Sr Structural Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation • Hagerstown, MD

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you a bold thinker driven to engineer the future of aerospace? At SNC, you’ll play a central role in advancing our next generation of airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (A‑ISR) platforms—including the digitally born, MBSE‑engineered RAPCON‑X, designed for flexible mission needs and worldwide operations. As a Senior Structural Engineer, you will lead analysis for airframe design, modification efforts that ensure these cutting‑edge ISR aircraft achieve exceptional performance, reliability, and structural integrity. You will shape technical decisions, influence structural architecture, and guide the development of high‑quality solutions across the aircraft lifecycle. In addition, you will mentor and develop early‑career engineers—helping build the next generation of structural engineering talent that powers our ISR mission. The Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area provides affordable, turn-key command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection and security solutions worldwide. The MST team has a long legacy of supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial and international customers with years of experience in platform operations, engineering and full lifecycle management across domains – air, land, sea, space and cyber. Responsibilities: Lead and execute complex structural engineering projects, driving technical direction, design strategy, and successful delivery across multiple aircraft programs. Provide expert-level guidance on airframe structures, including advanced analysis and design of metallic, composite, bonded, and hybrid structural systems. Perform and validate high‑fidelity structural analyses, such as static, fatigue, damage tolerance, stability, and dynamic assessments to ensure robust performance throughout the aircraft lifecycle. Review, develop, and refine structural architectures, influencing material selection, load‑path optimization, and integration of mission‑specific modifications. Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering technical excellence, advancing structural engineering best practices, and supporting career development across the team. Author, review, and approve detailed technical documentation, including stress reports, structural substantiation packages, drawings, specifications, and certification artifacts. Ensure full compliance with applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality processes to support safe, certifiable, and maintainable aircraft designs. Collaborate with cross‑functional and program leadership, ensuring structural engineering solutions align with program objectives, certification pathways, and long-term business strategy. Demonstrate compliance with Title 14 CFR Parts 23, 25, 27, and 29, including structural substantiation, load evaluation, and documentation required for supplemental type certification (STC).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in structural engineering supporting aircraft, aerospace systems, or complex structural programs. An advanced degree in a related field may substitute for a portion of the required experience.
• Expert knowledge of airframe structural analysis and design principles, including metallic, composite, bonded, and hybrid structures used in ISR and mission‑system‑equipped aircraft.
• Strong command of engineering fundamentals, loads, material behavior, and structural substantiation methodologies.
• Proficiency with Computer‑Aided Engineering (CAE) and analysis tools used for detailed stress, fatigue, and static/dynamic evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate within multi‑disciplinary engineering teams engaged in aircraft modification, integration, and mission‑system installation.
• Advanced experience performing and interpreting static, fatigue, damage‑tolerance, or dynamic analyses in support of aircraft‑level design decisions.
• Prior experience serving as a technical lead, guiding engineering direction, coordinating structural deliverables, and ensuring rigor across complex aircraft programs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a United States Security Clearance up to the Top Secret level.
• U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline with emphasis on airframe structures or advanced materials.
• Demonstrated contributions to the aerospace or defense structural engineering community, such as publications, conference presentations, or recognized technical leadership.
• Experience performing advanced structural simulations using FEA tools such as MSC Patran, Nastran, FEMAP, or ANSYS to support aircraft modification, mission‑system integration, and ISR platform design.
• Proficiency conducting fatigue and damage‑tolerance analysis using tools like NASGRO or AFGROW to substantiate airworthiness for both metallic and composite structures.
• Strong capability in classical analysis methods and industry‑standard hand calculations to validate models and verify structural behavior.
• Experience authoring structural substantiation reports, stress analyses, and certification packages for aircraft modifications or mission‑system installations.
• Background working within the Aerospace and Defense industry, especially on programs involving airframe modifications, mission equipment, or Next‑Gen ISR platforms.
• Familiarity with FAA, NASA, and/or DoD structural design and construction standards, including certification frameworks relevant to aircraft integration and supplemental type certification (STC).

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute complex structural engineering projects, driving technical direction, design strategy, and successful delivery across multiple aircraft programs.
• Provide expert-level guidance on airframe structures, including advanced analysis and design of metallic, composite, bonded, and hybrid structural systems.
• Perform and validate high‑fidelity structural analyses, such as static, fatigue, damage tolerance, stability, and dynamic assessments to ensure robust performance throughout the aircraft lifecycle.
• Review, develop, and refine structural architectures, influencing material selection, load‑path optimization, and integration of mission‑specific modifications.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering technical excellence, advancing structural engineering best practices, and supporting career development across the team.
• Author, review, and approve detailed technical documentation, including stress reports, structural substantiation packages, drawings, specifications, and certification artifacts.
• Ensure full compliance with applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality processes to support safe, certifiable, and maintainable aircraft designs.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional and program leadership, ensuring structural engineering solutions align with program objectives, certification pathways, and long-term business strategy.
• Demonstrate compliance with Title 14 CFR Parts 23, 25, 27, and 29, including structural substantiation, load evaluation, and documentation required for supplemental type certification (STC).

Benefits

• SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees