Lead Mechanical Analyst - Aircraft Loads & Propulsion

iO Associates; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

iO Associates seeks a Lead Mechanical Analyst for Aircraft Loads & Propulsion in a Hybrid role in Los Angeles. The candidate will own structural and flight-load analyses across propulsion and airframe interfaces, handling complex rotating assemblies, ducts, heat exchangers, and potential thermal tasks.

The position demands strong NASTRAN experience, hands-on FEA, and proven FAA certification support. Collaboration with propulsion, integration, and structures teams is essential for

Qualifications

• Strong aircraft structural or mechanical analysis experience, including flight loads, hand calculations and static / dynamic FEA.
• Practical NASTRAN capability, ideally alongside FEMAP, Patran or similar tools.
• Experience supporting FAA certification or STC-level structural substantiation across metallic and composite hardware.
• Bonus if you have experience around rotating machinery, engines, drivetrains, nacelles, ducting, heat exchangers or thermal-management systems.

Responsibilities

• Take analysis ownership across hardware packages, from first-principles calculations and NASTRAN models through to dynamic, vibration, fatigue and flight-loads assessments.
• Turn complex analysis into clear, certification-ready stress substantiation for FAA / DER review.
• Work directly with propulsion, integration and structures engineers to resolve design and loads issues as the programme develops.

Skills

Flight loads analysis

Hand calculations

Static / Dynamic FEA

NASTRAN

FEMAP

Patran

FAA certification experience

STC substantiation

Rotating machinery experience

Tools

NASTRAN

FEMAP

Patran

Job description

Lead Mechanical Analyst - Aircraft Loads & Propulsion

Hybrid, LA | Up to $250k + strong benefits package

A well-funded aviation technology start-up with a substantial commercial pipeline is scaling its lean engineering team and looking for a high-calibre Mechanical Analyst who can become a workhorse on a critical aircraft programme. You will take ownership of structural and flight-loads analysis across the propulsion and airframe interfaces.

The immediate work is unusually varied: a complex propshaft, engine and electric-machine rotating assembly; air-injection ducting and heat-exchanger hardware, with potential thermal analysis.

You will be:

• Take analysis ownership across these hardware packages, from first-principles calculations and NASTRAN models through to dynamic, vibration, fatigue and flight-loads assessments.
• Turn complex analysis into clear, certification-ready stress substantiation for FAA / DER review.
• Work directly with propulsion, integration and structures engineers to resolve design and loads issues as the programme develops.

You must have:

• Strong aircraft structural or mechanical analysis experience, including flight loads, hand calculations and static / dynamic FEA.
• Practical NASTRAN capability, ideally alongside FEMAP, Patran or similar tools.
• Experience supporting FAA certification or STC-level structural substantiation across metallic and composite hardware.
• Bonus if you have experience around rotating machinery, engines, drivetrains, nacelles, ducting, heat exchangers or thermal-management systems.

This is a key technical seat for someone who wants to own complex mechanical analysis across a green aircraft programme, not just analyse individual components in isolation.