Lead Propulsion & Fluid Systems Stress Analyst

firefly; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace in Austin, TX, seeks a Lead Stress Analyst for Propulsion and Fluid Systems within the Mechanical Engineering department. You will own the structural analysis from early design through qualification and flight, leading the most complex analyses and setting technical direction.

You will mentor other analysts, collaborate with design, materials, manufacturing and test engineers, define methods and material allowables, and ensure hardware is structurally robust and

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in structural/stress analysis and qualification of aerospace hardware.
• Proficiency with finite element analysis (Ansys and/or Nastran) and classical hand analysis, with strong model validation and verification skills.
• Experience with fatigue, fracture mechanics, and damage tolerance methods for flight-critical hardware.
• Experience with thermal / thermo-mechanical stress analysis.
• Experience analyzing pressurized components such as lines, ducts, and bellows.
• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, load paths, and first principles related to structures and materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead stress analysis of propulsion and fluid system hardware, including thrust chambers, feedlines, manifolds, valves, and pressurized components
• Perform and review static, thermal, dynamic, and durability analyses to guide design decisions and ensure strength, stability, stiffness, and life requirements are met
• Perform structural analysis using both finite element analysis (Ansys and/or Nastran) and classical hand calculations, and validate models against test data
• Define and improve analysis methods, standards, best practices, and material allowables for propulsion and fluid systems
• Generate interface loads and boundary conditions that drive sizing of downstream hardware
• Develop test requirements for qualification campaigns, correlate analysis models with test data, and support anomaly investigations and design improvements
• Collaborate with design, materials, manufacturing, and test engineers throughout the design lifecycle to drive manufacturable solutions
• Produce clear, well-documented analysis reports, provide technical guidance and mentorship to less-experienced engineers, and review internal and external analyses

Skills

FEA (Ansys/Nastran)

Fatigue & fracture mechanics

Thermal / thermo-mechanical analysis

Structural mechanics fundamentals

Leadership / mentoring

Documentation & reporting

Education

B.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

M.S./PhD (Preferred)

Tools

Ansys

Nastran

Job description

Firefly Aerospace in Austin, TX, seeks a Lead Stress Analyst for Propulsion and Fluid Systems within the Mechanical Engineering department. You will own the structural analysis from early design through qualification and flight, leading the most complex analyses and setting technical direction.

You will mentor other analysts, collaborate with design, materials, manufacturing and test engineers, define methods and material allowables, and ensure hardware is structurally robust and