Loads and Dynamics Engineering Lead

Executive Recruiting Group; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Executive Recruiting Group in San Luis Obispo, California is seeking a Lead Loads Engineer responsible for defining and validating loads across flight and ground operations. The ideal candidate will influence aircraft performance and safety through expert loads analysis and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications include a Master’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and 10+ years in load analysis. This role demands strong leadership and communication skills to effectively present findings and collaborate across various engineering functions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in load analysis, structural dynamics, or aeroelasticity.
• Expertise in load prediction tools and experience in unique vehicle analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of FAA certification processes for structural loads.

Responsibilities

• Lead loads analysis and modeling for aircraft vehicles.
• Define load requirements with aerodynamics and structural teams.
• Conduct detailed structural and fatigue load calculations.
• Collaborate on control surface and actuation designs.
• Participate in ground and flight testing for compliance.

Skills

Load analysis

Structural dynamics

Aeromechanics

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Load prediction tools

Job description

As the Lead Loads Engineer, you will be responsible for defining, analyzing, and validating loads across all phases of flight and ground operations. Your work will directly influence the structural integrity, safety, and performance of the aircraft, from design through to certification and testing. This role requires an expert with deep experience in loads analysis, structural dynamics, and aeromechanics, ensuring that the aircraft meets all strength and stiffness requirements. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating closely with aerodynamics, flight dynamics, flutter, and structural engineering teams.

Duties

• Lead loads analysis and modeling for aircraft vehicles, including static and dynamic load cases across all flight phases (hover, transition, forward flight, ground operations, etc.).
• Define load requirements in collaboration with aerodynamics, propulsion, and structural teams to ensure compliance with design and safety goals.
• Conduct detailed structural and fatigue load calculations to predict operational conditions, ensuring aircraft integrity.
• Support aircraft configuration design by providing critical insights into load distribution and structural requirements.
• Develop load envelopes and load criteria based on regulatory requirements (FAA) and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with control system and flight dynamics engineers to optimize control surface and actuation system designs for load management.
• Participate in ground and flight testing, ensuring that measured loads align with design predictions and providing recommendations for design improvements.
• Ensure compliance with all certification standards (e.g., 14 CFR Part 23/25/27/29) for structural integrity and safety.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in load analysis, structural dynamics, or aeroelasticity, with a focus on rotorcraft, fixed-wing, or eVTOL aircraft.
• Expertise in load prediction tools.
• Proven experience in complete aircraft load analysis for unique vehicles, especially eVTOL or rotorcraft.
• In-depth knowledge of FAA certification processes related to structural loads.
• Familiarity with aeroelastic and aeroservoelastic phenomena in rotorcraft or eVTOL applications.
• Excellent leadership skills, with a proven ability to collaborate in cross-functional teams.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex load analysis findings to diverse technical stakeholders.