Strength Analyst Lead 4 - Vulcan Development

ULA•Denver, CO

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Strength Analyst Lead 4 will lead a structural analysis team responsible for technical scope in Vulcan Development activities, including Centaur V on SLS in support of Artemis and Upper Stage Advancement long-duration capabilities. The role involves advanced strength, fatigue, and fracture analysis of structural components, including nonlinear analyses, and ownership of planning, prioritization, execution, and resolution of technical issues across the team's work scope. The analyst will develop analysis models and perform hand calculations; provide strength inputs and design recommendations; review engineering layouts, models, designs, drawings, and drawing changes; document results in strength reports; and lead peer, tabletop, and formal design reviews. The position also supports fast-paced design and analysis cycles, production activities, and evaluation of hardware nonconformances. The lead works independently across functional and product teams, helps develop team processes and capabilities, mentors junior engineers, and contributes to analysis automation tools. The position is based in Denver, with 10% travel and relocation potentially available. It requires U.S.-person status under ITAR. The salary range for Denver is $121,307–$202,178, with eligible employees potentially receiving a discretionary annual bonus. ULA describes flexible work environments and notes that most salaried team members work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field from an accredited college or university.
At least 6 years of related work experience.
Ability to resolve technical issues using available analysis tools and methodologies.
Ability to make design recommendations based on first-order analysis results and engineering judgment or experience.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Agile tools, including Jira.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Detailed understanding of materials and material properties.
Advanced structural analysis experience, including tanks, adapters, and brackets.
Advanced analysis experience with propulsion hardware, including tubing, ducting, and flex joints.
Understanding of fatigue and fracture analysis methodology and ability to develop tools that facilitate this analysis.
Understanding of bolted-joint analysis and modeling and ability to develop tools that facilitate this analysis.
Understanding of GD&T standards and principles.
Understanding of analysis best practices and underlying assumptions, and ability to establish team standards.
Understanding of basic hand calculations.
Experience resolving hardware nonconformances.
U.S.-person status as defined by ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 is required.
Familiarity with Nastran (static, modal, dynamic, and nonlinear analysis solutions), Femap, NX CAD/Simulation, NASGRO, Microsoft Office, Unix/Linux mainframe-based analysis tools, Matlab, Abaqus, and Jira.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a technical lead in an aerospace development program.
Experience running or creating analysis automation and pre- and post-processing scripts using Unix, Matlab, Python, or Excel.
Experience developing tools for analyzing propulsion systems, including tubing, ducting, bellows, and supplier components.
Experience leading static or dynamic testing and model correlation.
Experience leading structural optimization techniques for mass savings.
Experience integrating with system-level analysis models, such as coupled loads models.
Experience with NASA human-rating analysis and qualification requirements, including NASA-STD-5019 and NASA-STD-5001.
General knowledge of mechanical hardware fabrication methods, such as machining, welding, processing, and assembly.
Familiarity with mechanical support equipment.
Familiarity with composite structural analysis.
Experience leading analysis efforts that support cross-functional teams.
Experience working on development programs within the Agile framework and understanding of Agile tools, including Jira.

Responsibilities

Lead analysts through Vulcan Development activities, including Centaur V on SLS in support of Artemis and Upper Stage Advancement long-duration capabilities.
Lead advanced strength, fatigue, and fracture analyses of structural components, including nonlinear analyses.
Facilitate work-scope planning, prioritization, execution, issue resolution, and status communication to program leaders.
Create advanced analysis models and perform hand calculations to provide strength inputs and recommendations for new designs and installations.
Review and approve 3D engineering layouts, 3D models, designs and drawings, and 2D drawing changes for propulsion, fluid-system, and mechanical-system components.
Make engineering design recommendations considering thermal, mechanical, and pressure loading, material properties, configurations, and safety factors.
Document analysis results in strength reports.
Drive internal peer reviews, tabletop reviews, and formal design reviews as needed.
Support fast-paced design and analysis cycles and evaluate hardware nonconformances to support production activities.
Work independently and coordinate efforts across functional and product teams.
Help develop team processes and capabilities and mentor junior engineers.
Assist the team in creating analysis automation tools.