Lead Structural Stress Analysis Engineer (Nastran / Patran)

Total Aviation Staffing, LLC; Firebaugh (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Total Aviation Staffing, LLC is partnering with Eagle Field Airport-based startup to hire a hands-on Lead Structural Stress Analysis Engineer. You will own aircraft structural stress analysis and substantiation, ensure review quality, and collaborate with Loads, Airframe Design, Materials, Manufacturing, Test and Aircraft Systems.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor’s in aerospace or mechanical engineering, 5+ years in aircraft stress analysis, and at least 3 years of Nastran/Patran experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering.
• 5+ years in aircraft structural stress analysis.
• Minimum 3 years hands-on Nastran and Patran.
• U.S. work authorization without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead aircraft structural stress analysis and substantiation.
• Prioritize and review supporting stress work.
• Build Nastran/Patran models and verify load paths, boundary conditions and material/joint assumptions.
• Perform static strength, buckling and modal assessments.
• Analyze laminates, fittings, fasteners and bonded joints.
• Plan tests and correlate stiffness, strain and modal response; assess design and manufacturing deviations.
• Document controlled stress reports and improve independent checks, model validation and test correlation methods.

Skills

Structural stress analysis

Leadership

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering

Tools

Nastran

Patran

Job description

Lead Structural Stress Analysis Engineer — Nastran / Patran

Pay: Competitive pay.

Location: Eagle Field Airport, Firebaugh, CA. Bay Area / Palo Alto candidates preferred; relocation candidates welcome.

Schedule: Full-time. On-site or hybrid; hands-on development and integration work with coordinated visits to Eagle Field.

About the opportunity

Our client is a growing aviation startup building a hybrid-electric drive-and-fly vehicle, with development and testing at Eagle Field Airport. They need a hands-on lead to own aircraft structural stress analysis and substantiation, including review quality and the airframe substantiation baseline.

You'll work in the engineering organization under the CTO's technical leadership, interfacing with Loads, Airframe Design, Materials, Manufacturing, Test and Aircraft Systems. Hiring is targeted for year-end 2026.

What you'll do

• Lead aircraft structural stress analysis and substantiation, and own review quality.
• Prioritize and review supporting stress work.
• Build Nastran/Patran models and verify load paths, boundary conditions and material/joint assumptions.
• Perform static strength, buckling and modal assessments.
• Analyze laminates, fittings, fasteners and bonded joints.
• Plan tests and correlate stiffness, strain and modal response; assess design and manufacturing deviations.
• Document controlled stress reports and improve independent checks, model validation and test correlation methods.

What you need

• Bachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering, or equivalent demonstrated expertise.
• 5+ years in aircraft structural stress analysis.
• Minimum 3 years hands-on Nastran and Patran.
• Composite/metallic structures, joints, buckling, load paths and failure modes; FE results verification with hand calculations and correlation to physical measurements.
• U.S. work authorization without visa sponsorship.

Nice to have

• Fatigue/damage tolerance, dynamics and allowables.
• Practical use of AI tools or automation, with examples of your own contribution.

Competitive pay. Further compensation details will be shared during the process.