Structural Analysis Lead

CFD Research Corporation•Huntsville, AL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

CFD Research Corporation is seeking a talented engineer to lead their growing structural analysis team. The candidate will oversee Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based structural work, including static strength, high-speed dynamic impacts, vibrations, fatigue, and crack propagation. Experience with turbomachinery and rotordynamics is considered a plus. This position is located at CFD Research’s Huntsville Headquarters, where the candidate will lead a team of structural engineers, providing rapid design recommendations and assessments. The role involves identifying, scoping, and directing work in conjunction with program managers and subject matter experts. The candidate will be responsible for quality assurance of all work products and will present results to customers. Additionally, the candidate will regularly interface with engineers from the Prototype, Test and Evaluation Division at the company’s Hollywood, AL Engineering Test Center, requiring travel to Hollywood approximately three times a month. Beyond technical leadership, the candidate will mentor, train, and develop team members through one-on-one career discussions and biannual performance reviews. Proficiency in Abaqus and LS-Dyna is required, along with experience running on remote High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters and submitting jobs via a bash scheduler.

Requirements

US Citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance
Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering
10+ years hands on experience with FEA
3+ years experience in team leadership, project leadership or technical mentorship
Deep understanding of linear static, dynamic, modal, fatigue, and buckling analyses.
Proficiency in Abaqus and LS-DYNA
Demonstrated ability to perform classical hand calculations to validate FEA models, sanity-check boundary conditions, and verify load paths.
Solid grasp of isotropic and basic composite material behavior, yield criteria (Von Mises, Tresca), and fracture mechanics basics
Knowledge of thermal–structural coupling
Experience reviewing structural test data (strain gauges, load cells, vibration sweep testing) to calibrate and validate finite element models.

Nice To Haves

An active secret security clearance
Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering
Expertise in complex non-linear dynamics, large deformation, plastic collapse, transient thermal-stress coupling, and progressive damage mechanics.
Deep familiarization with relevant domain codes/standards (e.g., ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code).
Experience with rotordynamics and associated analysis methods
Proficiency in Python, APDL, TCL/TK, or C++ to automate mesh generation, post-processing report generation, and parametric optimizations.
Experience managing group budgets, software license allocations (Ansys/Abaqus token pools), and High-Performance Computing (HPC) hardware environments.
Experience with turbomachinery and rotordynamics

Responsibilities

Oversee FEA based structural work including static strength, high speed dynamic impacts, vibrations, fatigue, and crack propagation.
Lead a growing team of structural engineers providing rapid design recommendations and assessments.
Identify, scope and direct work in conjunction with the program manager and group SMEs.
Be responsible for quality assurance on all work products.
Brief results to customers.
Interface regularly with Prototype, Test and Evaluation Division engineers.
Mentor, train and develop members of the team.
Conduct regular one-on-one career development discussions.
Perform biannual performance reviews.
Perform classical hand calculations to validate FEA models, sanity-check boundary conditions, and verify load paths.
Review structural test data (strain gauges, load cells, vibration sweep testing) to calibrate and validate finite element models.