Mechanical Engineer - Aerospace Structures

Placements24; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Professional development opportunities

On-site employment

Job summary

Placements24 in Queenstown, NZ is seeking a skilled Mechanical Engineer for on-site design, analysis, and testing of aircraft structural components. You will work on airframes, landing gear, and other critical structures, ensuring safety and performance per AS9100 standards.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with 5+ years in aerospace structures, and is proficient in CATIA/SolidWorks and ANSYS/Nastran.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Minimum 5 years of mechanical design experience in aerospace.
• Proficient in CAD software CATIA or SolidWorks and advanced FEA tools.
• Strong knowledge of materials, fatigue, fracture mechanics, composites.
• Experience with aerospace manufacturing processes and standards.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Eligible for security clearance if required.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies for aerospace applications using CAD.
• Perform structural analysis including stress, fatigue, and vibration using FEA tools.
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings and BOMs per aerospace standards (AS9100).
• Collaborate with stress analysts, materials scientists, and manufacturing teams.
• Oversee fabrication, assembly, and testing of prototype and flight structures.
• Analyze test data, perform root cause analysis for failures, implement design improvements.
• Ensure compliance with aerospace regulations, safety, and performance targets.
• Work with manufacturing and QA to ensure manufacturability and quality.

Skills

CAD Software

FEA

Aerospace Structures

Structural Analysis

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Nastran

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a growing company in the aerospace manufacturing sector, is seeking a skilled Mechanical Engineer to join their team in Queenstown, Eastern Cape . This is a full-time, on-site role focused on the design, analysis, and testing of aircraft structural components. You will contribute to projects involving airframes, landing gear systems, or other critical structures, ensuring they meet stringent aerospace standards for safety, performance, and reliability. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of advanced materials, structural mechanics, and aerospace design principles. You will work collaboratively with stress analysts, materials specialists, and manufacturing teams to bring innovative aerospace solutions to fruition. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated engineer to make a significant impact in the aerospace industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies for aerospace applications using CAD software.
• Perform structural analysis, including stress, fatigue, and vibration analysis, using FEA tools to validate designs.
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings, specifications, and Bills of Materials (BOMs) compliant with aerospace standards (e.g., AS9100).
• Collaborate with stress engineers, materials scientists, and aerodynamicists to ensure integrated design solutions.
• Oversee the fabrication, assembly, and testing of prototype and flight-qualified structures.
• Analyze test data, perform root cause analysis for failures, and implement design improvements.
• Ensure designs meet all relevant aerospace regulations, safety requirements, and performance targets.
• Work closely with manufacturing and quality assurance teams to ensure manufacturability and adherence to quality standards.
• Research and evaluate new materials, technologies, and manufacturing processes for aerospace applications.
• Prepare technical documentation, including design reports, test plans, and certification data.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in mechanical design, with a focus on aerospace structures or related fields.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks) and advanced FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS, Nastran).
• Strong understanding of mechanics of materials, fatigue and fracture mechanics, and composite materials.
• Experience with aerospace manufacturing processes and quality standards.
• Knowledge of aircraft systems and airworthiness requirements.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and manage project tasks.
• Familiarity with design for NDI (Non-Destructive Inspection) is a plus.
• Must be eligible for security clearance if required by specific projects.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance incentives.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge aerospace projects.
• Stable, full-time, on-site employment.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Exposure to a high-technology manufacturing environment.