Lead Structural Analysis Engineer – FEA & Dynamics

CFD Research Corporation; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

ESOP

Medical, vision & dental insurance

Performance bonuses

Paid leave & disability coverage

Job summary

CFD Research Corporation seeks an accomplished structural engineering leader to head the structural analysis group at our Huntsville, AL headquarters. You will oversee FEA work including static strength, high-speed dynamics, vibrations, fatigue, and crack propagation, with experience in turbomachinery a plus.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate with program managers and SMEs, and interface with the Hollywood, AL test center, requiring about three trips monthly for in-person reviews and design

Qualifications

• US citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience with FEA.
• 3+ years experience in team leadership, project leadership or technical mentorship.
• Proficiency in Abaqus and LS-DYNA.
• Demonstrated ability to perform classical hand calculations to validate FEA models and verify load paths.
• Solid grasp of isotropic and basic composite material behavior, yield criteria, and fracture mechanics basics.
• Knowledge of thermal–structural coupling.
• Experience reviewing structural test data to calibrate finite element models.

Responsibilities

• Lead a growing structural engineering team and oversee FEA-based work.
• Oversee static strength, dynamic impacts, vibrations, fatigue, and crack propagation analyses.
• Interface with program manager and SMEs; brief results to customers.
• Coordinate with Hollywood, AL engineering test center; travel ~3 times per month for in-person meetings.
• Mentor and develop team members through regular career discussions and biannual reviews.

Skills

FEA experience

Team leadership

Security clearance

Statics & dynamics expertise

Boundary condition verification

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Master's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Abaqus

LS-DYNA

Python

APDL

TCL/TK

C++

Job description

CFD Research Corporation seeks an accomplished structural engineering leader to head the structural analysis group at our Huntsville, AL headquarters. You will oversee FEA work including static strength, high-speed dynamics, vibrations, fatigue, and crack propagation, with experience in turbomachinery a plus.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate with program managers and SMEs, and interface with the Hollywood, AL test center, requiring about three trips monthly for in-person reviews and design