Senior Stress Engineer

Prestwick Aerosystems; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Friday afternoons off

Profit sharing

Contributory pension

Share options

36 hour week

Job summary

Airbus Belfast is seeking a Senior Stress Engineer to lead the structural analysis and sizing of advanced aircraft structures from concept to production. You will drive static strength, fatigue life and damage tolerance while acting as the technical authority for airworthiness certification.

In this role you will use NASTRAN, PATRAN/HyperMesh, compile certification reports, and liaise with Design, Loads, Materials, and Manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Hold a minimum of an HNC in an engineering related subject.
• Minimum of 3 years’ relevant stress engineering experience.
• Experience in Stress Analysis using static methods, Fatigue and Damage Tolerance and Finite Element Analysis.
• Experience in NASTRAN, PATRAN/HyperMesh for composite and metallic materials.
• Experience in technical report writing and presentation material.
• Ability to check or approve production drawings or stress analysis reports.
• Demonstrate ability to work independently.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with engineers at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Structural Stress analysis of composite and metallic structures for static strength.
• Assess fatigue and damage tolerance.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements and airworthiness regulations.
• Support aircraft development, certification, and in‑service engineering.
• Compile, check and approve static stress certification reports and dossiers.
• Stress approval of production drawings.
• Liaise with Design, Loads, Materials, Manufacturing and Test Engineers.
• Assist with design reviews and resolve structural issues in production or in‑service contexts.
• Support integration of systems into the aircraft structure.
• Develop structural test requirements and plans for certification testing.
• Assist MRB approval of production concessions as needed.

Skills

Stress analysis

Finite element analysis

Independent working

Interpersonal skills

Technical writing

Education

HNC in engineering related subject

Tools

NASTRAN

PATRAN

HyperMesh

Job description

Job Description

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to BPSS and Export Control checks (including a criminal record check) TRAVEL REQUIRED: Occasional travel within UK LOCATION: Belfast GRADE: B6 TYPE: Full time

What’s in it for you

Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options

Work / Life Balance: 36 hour week, flexible working around core hours and Friday afternoons off, flexible working

Join the dynamic engineering team at Airbus Belfast as a Senior Stress Engineer, where you will lead the structural analysis and sizing of cutting‑edge commercial aircraft structures from preliminary concept through to final production. Collaborating closely with diverse disciplines such as Design, Manufacturing, and Materials, you will spearhead the evaluation of composite and metallic components to ensure exceptional static strength, fatigue life, and damage tolerance. In this highly impactful position, you will act as the core technical authority for airworthiness certification, authorising complex finite element models and driving innovative solutions for both manufacturing and in‑service aircraft support.

How you will contribute to the team

• Conduct Structural Stress analysis of composite and Metallic Structures for Static Strength.
• Fatigue and Damage tolerance.
• Ensure Compliance with Customer requirements and airworthiness regulations.
• Support Aircraft development, certification and In‑service Engineering.
• Compiling, checking and approving static stress certification reports and dossiers.
• Stress approval of production drawings.
• Liaise with other engineering disciplines (Design, Loads, Materials, Manufacturing and Test Engineers).
• Supporting Design Reviews and resolve production or in‑service Structural Issues.
• Supporting with the integration of systems into the Aircraft Structure.
• Involved with the development of structural test requirements and plans for certification testing.
• Supporting MRB approval of production concessions as required.

About you

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient detail is provided to demonstrate how they meet essential job criteria, as this alone will be used for vetting purposes.

Essential

• Hold a minimum of an HNC in an engineering related subject and have a minimum of 3 years’ relevant stress engineering experience.
• Experienced in Stress Analysis using classical methods static Fatigue and Damage Tolerance and Finite element Analysis.
• Using NASTRAN, PATRAN/ Hypermesh for composite and metallic material.
• Experience in technical report writing and presentation material.
• Have experience in checking or approving production drawings or stress analysis reports.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with Engineers and all levels.

Desirable

• Desirable Criteria – Statics: Previous experience in Airbus stress methods for static and Composite structures including ISAMI.
• Has held previous Airbus Delegation on all A/C programs including legacy Bombardier C‑Series of the A220.
• Experience in sizing analysis of the main structural components of commercial aircraft wings.
• Experience in development of Structural Certification Test Requirements.
• Desirable Criteria – Fatigue & Damage Tolerance: Experience in development of fatigue spectrum using Bombardier Goliath tools.
• Experience in development of fatigue spectrum using Airbus ISAMI Tools.
• Development of NASGRO stress models for damage tolerance analysis.
• Desirable Criteria – Finite Element Modelling: Experience development of Global and Local/Detailed Finite Element Models for Aircraft development and certification.
• Good working knowledge of Airbus Finite Element Modelling rules.
• Experience of FEM validation to comply with Airbus and Certification Requirements.
• Desirable Criteria – Material Review Board: Experience of stress analysis to support disposition of Reports of Non Conformance (RNC’s) or concessions.
• Previous MRB approval for stress disposition of concessions.

Closing date: 7th October 2026

Please note that meeting the mandatory criteria listed above guarantees consideration for the role, but does not ensure progression to the interview stage. In the event of a high volume of qualified applications, the selection panel reserves the right to shortlist and progress candidates who additionally meet one or more of the preferential (desirable) criteria.

About us

Join Airbus Belfast – Pioneering Sustainable Aerospace for a Safe and United World. As a premier centre of excellence for advanced aerostructures, our Belfast team drives the complete wing lifecycle – from concept design to in‑service support – for the world’s leading aerospace manufacturer. To support major multi‑million‑pound site investments and expanding operations, we are recruiting talented engineers to scale world‑class aerospace innovation into the future.

What we do

Global A220 Wing Nerve Centre: Our specialist engineering teams drive the continuous design and technical development of the advanced composite A220 wing. With over 1,100 firm orders from 30+ global customers and 500+ aircraft flying across 25 international operators, Belfast is accelerating production ramp‑ups to meet record global demand. By leveraging cutting‑edge digital tools, advanced composite materials and automated manufacturing processes, our engineers are actively advancing performance, passenger experience and structural capabilities for the world’s most popular single‑aisle aircraft in its class.

Iconic Commercial Programmes

Our expertise spans the entire Airbus commercial family, delivering critical innovations from the record‑breaking A350‑1000 fuel tank integration that enabled the longest flight in history, to the primary structural backbone for the A350F – the world’s most eco‑efficient cargo aircraft.

Shape the Future of Flight

To fuel our long‑term growth, we are expanding our engineering team in Belfast and seeking specialists across key disciplines, including structural design, stress analysis, aircraft integration and materials & processes. If you are ready to work with cutting‑edge technologies and define the next generation of aerospace, apply today. In Belfast, we make it fly!

How we can support you

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part‑time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request. Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process – you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Airbus UK will offer an interview to any applicant that considers themselves to have a disability or long‑term condition under the Equality Act 2010 and meets the minimum criteria of the role (as set out in the job advert). To ‘opt in’, just select the option during your application submission and your application will be considered accordingly.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all.