Mechanical Analysis Engineer

Langham Recruitment; Guildford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent recruitment firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Mechanical Analysis Engineer for an initial 12-month contract in Guildford. The role involves hands-on structural analysis, environmental testing, and close collaboration with engineering teams. Candidates should have experience in aerospace or motorsport and be proficient in FEA tools. This position offers opportunities for growth in the space and satellite sector and involves on-site work.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in structural analysis in aerospace or motorsport.
• Proficiency with structural analysis tools like Nastran and Ansys.
• Experience in vibration/static testing and thermo-elastic analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform finite element analyses and structural margins calculations.
• Create FE models of spacecraft components using FEA tools.
• Select materials and treatments for structural components.

Skills

Structural analysis

Finite element analysis (FEA)

Material selection

Vibration testing

3D CAD (SolidWorks)

Documentation skills

Time management

Tools

Nastran

HyperMesh

Ansys Workbench

MATLAB

Job description

Overview

Mechanical Analysis Engineer | Initial 12 month Contract (likely to renew) | Guildford | On-Site | Inside IR35

Our client, a leader in the Space & Satellite sector, is seeking a dynamic and motivated Mechanical Analyst to support structural developments for current and future spacecraft missions. This is a hands-on role combining structural analysis, environmental testing, and systems engineering to ensure the mechanical integrity of flight hardware and sub-systems. You'll be part of our Structure and Propulsion team, working closely with project managers, design engineers, systems engineers, and principal engineers throughout the product lifecycle — from analysis to qualification and launch.

Responsibilities

• Perform quasi-static and dynamic finite element analyses and produce structural margins of safety using FEA tools and hand calculations.
• Create and refine FE models of spacecraft components and structures using tools such as Nastran, HyperMesh, and Ansys Workbench.
• Select suitable materials and surface treatments for structural components, particularly for metallic and composite materials.
• Support and attend environmental test campaigns, including vibration and static testing — both within the UK and occasionally overseas.
• Validate and correlate analytical models using experimental data from tests to improve accuracy and reliability.
• Develop mechanical environmental envelopes based on launch requirements, analysis, and test data.
• Maintain accurate mass properties, including centre of gravity and moment of inertia estimates.
• Produce high-quality technical reports and analysis documentation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in structural analysis in a high-precision, low-volume environment such as aerospace, space, or motorsport.
• Proficiency with structural analysis tools including Nastran, HyperMesh, SmartOffice, Ansys Workbench, and MATLAB.
• Strong hand-stressing and FEA skills, with a sound understanding of engineering fundamentals.
• Experience working with both metallic and composite structures.
• Experience in vibration/static testing and thermo-elastic analysis.
• Familiarity with spacecraft systems and structural design constraints in the space environment.
• Competence with 3D CAD systems such as SolidWorks.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills, including interaction with project teams and external stakeholders.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (including Outlook).
• Highly detail-oriented, with excellent time management and problem-solving abilities.
• A collaborative team player who thrives under pressure and tight deadlines.