Loads and Dynamics Engineer

Sogeclair; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sogeclair in Wichita, KS seeks an experienced aerospace engineer to support aircraft development, analysis, integration, and certification, focusing on external loads, flight dynamics, aeroelasticity, simulation, and flight-control integration. Collaborate with Structures, Aerodynamics, Flight Controls, Systems, Mass Properties, and Flight Test teams to deliver certified aircraft products.

The role involves model development, validation against test data, and preparation of certification

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience in loads, flight dynamics, aeroelasticity, or related field.
• Strong MATLAB/Simulink and programming skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze aircraft design and external loads: aerodynamic, control-surface, inertial, maneuver and gust loads.
• Develop and maintain aircraft simulation models for loads, flight dynamics and aeroelastic analysis; integrate fly-by-wire and flight-control models.
• Develop, assess and verify control laws (CLAWS), flight-control systems, autopilot and stability-and-control functions using MATLAB/Simulink.
• Evaluate aeroelastic behavior including flutter/LCO, unsteady aerodynamics and nonlinear actuators.
• Conduct simulation and pilot-in-the-loop testing; correlate models with ground- and flight-test data.
• Develop automated analysis tools and support avionics/flight-control integration; prepare certification documentation.
• Ensure analyses support FAA, EASA, TCCA airworthiness and certification requirements.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

Flight dynamics

Aeroelasticity

External loads

C++

Python

Fortran

Fly-by-wire

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Nastran

Job description

Seeking an experienced engineer to support aircraft development, analysis, integration, and certification, with emphasis on external loads, flight dynamics, aeroelasticity, simulation/modeling, and flight-control integration. The role supports both new aircraft development and continued-airworthiness programs and works closely with Structures, Aerodynamics, Flight Controls, Systems, Mass Properties, and Flight Test teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze aircraft design and external loads, including aerodynamic, control-surface, inertial, maneuver, and gust loads.
• Develop and maintain aircraft simulation models for loads, flight dynamics, and aeroelastic analysis; integrate fly-by-wire and flight-control models.
• Develop, assess, and verify control laws (CLAWS), flight-control systems, autopilot, and stability-and-control functions using MATLAB/Simulink and related tools.
• Evaluate aeroelastic behavior, flutter/LCO, unsteady aerodynamics, nonlinear actuators, handling qualities, and aircraft-level performance.
• Conduct simulation and pilot-in-the-loop testing; correlate models with ground- and flight-test data and support flight-test campaigns.
• Develop automated analysis tools, support supplier avionics/flight-control integration, and prepare technical and certification documentation.
• Ensure analyses support applicable FAA, TCCA, and EASA airworthiness and certification requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional aerospace experience in aircraft loads, flight dynamics, flight controls, aeroelasticity, or a closely related field.
• Experience with external loads analysis, aircraft simulation/mathematical models, and flight dynamics/stability and control.
• Strong MATLAB/Simulink skills; proficiency in at least one of Python, C++, or Fortran.
• Understanding of fly-by-wire and control-law integration, aeroelastic phenomena (including flutter/LCO), and aircraft certification.
• Ability to validate analysis against simulation, ground-test, or flight-test results; strong technical communication and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Control-law development or validation; Part 25 aircraft programs; DO-178, ARP4754/ARP4754A, or similar standards.
• Nastran or other FEA tools; 6-DOF simulation; time- and frequency-domain aerodynamic analysis; nonlinear actuator modeling.
• Pilot-in-the-loop/handling-quality evaluations, high-performance computing, Git or similar configuration management, and flight-test/certification support.

Ideal Candidate

• A multidisciplinary engineer who combines aircraft loads, flight dynamics, and flight controls/CLAWS expertise, understands how aerodynamic, control-surface, and inertial loads interact with aircraft structures, and can use simulation models to assess aircraft behavior throughout the flight envelope.