Loads and Dynamics Engineering Lead

The Executive Recruiter Group; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Executive Recruiter Group is seeking a Lead Loads Engineer to define, analyze, and validate aircraft loads across all flight and ground phases, impacting safety and performance from design to certification.

You will lead loads calculations for static and dynamic cases, collaborate with aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and structural teams, and ensure compliance with FAA 14 CFR Part 23/25/27/29 and industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead loads analysis and modeling for aircraft vehicles, including static and dynamic loadcases across all flight phases (hover, transition, forward flight, ground operations, etc).
• Define load requirements in collaboration with aerodynamics, propulsion, and structural teams to ensure 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.

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 loadcases 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.