Senior Structural Analyst

Cardinal Engineering LLC; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous 401(k) with employer match

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision

FSA dependent care account

Disability protection

Company-paid life and AD&D

Job summary

Cardinal Engineering LLC in Washington, DC seeks a senior technical leader to advance structural analysis and computational mechanics for DoD and maritime programs. You will guide high-fidelity FEA, optimize survivability, and mentor junior staff while interfacing with Navy and prime contractors.

You will translate mission requirements into robust models, drive automation via FEMAP API, and ensure compliance with naval standards and design reviews in a hybrid office environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil, Naval Architecture or Ocean Engineering.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in advanced structural analysis and computational mechanics, with defense/maritime focus.
• Proven experience as technical lead or SME on complex FEA projects using FEMAP and NASTRAN.
• Strong briefing and communication skills for senior leadership and government customers.
• Active Secret security clearance or ability to obtain DoD Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and advance high-fidelity FEA for static, dynamic, transient and nonlinear loading.
• Architect automation tools and FEMAP API scripts to streamline workflows.
• Oversee analysis packages, substantiation reports, and structural drawings for fleet assets.
• Direct trade studies to optimize weight, cost, and manufacturability while meeting naval standards.
• Interface with Navy authorities, NAVSEA offices, and prime contractors during design reviews.
• Enforce analysis standards and mentor mid-level and junior staff.

Skills

FEA leadership

FEMAP/NASTRAN

Automation with FEMAP API

Python/C++/VBA

Technical communication

Security clearance

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil, Naval Architecture, or Ocean Engineering

MS/PhD in Solid/Computational Mechanics (desirable)

Tools

FEMAP

NASTRAN

Python

C++

VBA

Job description

Lead and advance Cardinal Engineering’s structural analysis and computational mechanics initiatives across a portfolio of high-priority Department of Defense and maritime programs. In this role, you will serve as a senior technical authority on the assessment, survivability, and life-cycle support of Navy surface ship structures, submarine systems, and underwater vehicles. Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will translate complex mission requirements into high-fidelity structural models, guide trade studies, and ensure structural performance and shock survivability in extreme marine environments.

Position Expectations

• Technical Leadership & Analysis: Lead and execute high-fidelity Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for complex static, dynamic, transient, and non-linear loading conditions using FEMAP/NASTRAN.
• Workflow Innovation: Drive team efficiency by architecting and implementing custom automation tools, macros, and API scripts (FEMAP API) to streamline standard modeling, analysis, and post-processing workflows.
• Technical Products & Substantiation: Oversee the generation and technical review of comprehensive analysis packages, substantiation reports, and structural drawing sets for critical fleet assets.
• Survivability & Optimization: Direct structural trade studies to optimize weight, cost, and manufacturability while strictly adhering to naval survivability and strength standards.
• Client & Stakeholder Interface: Serve as a primary technical point of contact for Navy technical authorities, NAVSEA program offices, and prime contractors, regularly presenting findings and defending analytical approaches during major design reviews.
• Standards & Mentorship: Enforce internal analysis standards, verification methodologies, and best practices for the Structural Engineering Group while mentoring mid-level and junior staff.
• Work Location: Based out of our Washington, D.C., Pawcatuck, CT, or Linwood, PA, offices in a hybrid environment, with in-office presence driven by project requirements and secure facility needs.
• Travel: Occasional travel (less than 20%) to shipyards, partner facilities, and government test sites.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil, Naval Architecture, or Ocean Engineering.
• Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in advanced structural analysis and computational mechanics, with a strong emphasis on defense or maritime applications.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience acting as a technical lead or subject matter expert on complex FEA projects using FEMAP and NASTRAN.
• Communication: Strong briefing and communication skills, with proven success presenting technical risk, analytical methodology, and design trade-offs to senior leadership and government customers.
• Security Clearance: Must possess an active Secret security clearance, or have the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced Education: Advanced degree (MS or PhD) specializing in Solid Mechanics, Computational Mechanics, or Structural Dynamics.
• Automation Skills: Advanced proficiency in FEMAP API development using Python, C++, or VBA to build automated analysis toolkits.
• Naval Domain Knowledge: In-depth mastery of Navy ship design practices, including hull structures, equipment foundations, and shock/vibration qualification.
• Naval Standards: Direct experience with naval structural standards and criteria (e.g., DDS-100 series, MIL-STD-167, MIL-DTL-901).
• Specialized Analysis Skills: Expertise in Dynamic Design Analysis Method (DDAM) and Underwater Explosion (UNDEX) response modeling is highly desirable.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $130,000 – $185,000+ per year (commensurate with experience and level of technical expertise).
• Employee Benefits: Cardinal Engineering is an equal opportunity employer and offers an industry-leading compensation and benefits package, including:
• Generous 401(k) company contribution with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account
• Short-term and long-term disability protection
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance plans

Our Culture

At Cardinal Engineering, we believe premier technical services are built on transparency, sincerity, and technical rigor. We foster a collaborative environment where senior engineers have the autonomy to solve complex naval challenges and the platform to shape the engineering practices of the entire firm. When you join Cardinal, you become a key contributor to a dedicated team providing critical engineering support to national defense programs.