Senior Loads & Aeroelastic Engineer for Next-Gen Aircraft

Shieldai; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI in Dallas invites a Staff Loads Engineer to lead aerodynamic and structural load envelopes for the next-gen air vehicle. You will shape load paths, support sizing, airworthiness, and aeroelastic stability, and work with design, aero, GNC, and test teams to ensure traceability from concept to flight data.

The role requires 8+ years in loads/aeroelastic analysis, strong tool fluency (FEMAP, NASTRAN, MATLAB, Simulink), and a solid engineering degree.

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience performing loads and aeroelastic analysis for aircraft (manned or unmanned).
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience with loads modeling tools such as FEMAP, NASTRAN, MATLAB, or similar.
• Strong understanding of flight envelopes, control surface effects, and load paths.
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and document results.
• Security clearance to DoD standards preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own development of aerodynamic and structural load envelopes for full vehicle.
• Lead maneuver, gust, landing, and ground loads analyses (quasi-static and dynamic).
• Coordinate with GNC, aero, and structural teams to tie load cases to flight profiles.
• Develop and validate loads models using FEMAP/NASTRAN/MATLAB or Python/Simulink.
• Support sizing and analysis of critical structural components with load maps and V-n diagrams.
• Conduct aeroelastic stability assessments, including divergence checks.
• Lead traceability of loads inputs/outputs across ICDs, FEA models, and design docs.
• Interface with test engineering for strain gauge placement and data correlation.
• Author and present loads documentation for reviews and compliance.
• Support long-term refinement of loads methodologies and automation.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Loads analysis

Aeroelastic theory

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical documentation

Python scripting

Education

Bachelors or Masters in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FEMAP

NASTRAN

MATLAB

Simulink

Python

Job description

Shield AI in Dallas invites a Staff Loads Engineer to lead aerodynamic and structural load envelopes for the next-gen air vehicle. You will shape load paths, support sizing, airworthiness, and aeroelastic stability, and work with design, aero, GNC, and test teams to ensure traceability from concept to flight data.

The role requires 8+ years in loads/aeroelastic analysis, strong tool fluency (FEMAP, NASTRAN, MATLAB, Simulink), and a solid engineering degree.