Structural Analysis Engineer – FEA / Femap / Nastran

SGS Consulting; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SGS Consulting is seeking a Structural Analysis Engineer to lead FEA efforts using Femap and Nastran. You will analyze structures and joints, develop documentation, and collaborate across mechanical, electrical, and software teams for prototype hardware development.

Initial 100% onsite requirement, with potential travel up to 10% for meetings or field sites. Strong CAD experience and formal engineering degrees are required.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering with 3–5 years of structural analysis experience.
• Experience with Femap/Nastran structural analysis and bolted joints.
• Strong documentation and CAD workflow, including CAD file control.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Project, Visio) and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analyses across program lifecycle using Femap/Nastran.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to align analyses with schedules.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation and CAD/analysis files.
• Support test planning and analysis with clear presentations.

Skills

Femap/Nastran

SolidWorks CAD

Engineering docs

MS Office

Attention to detail

Degree requirement

Education

B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Eng

M.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Eng

Tools

Femap

Nastran

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Title: Structural Analysis Engineer – FEA / Femap / Nastran

Duration: 3+ years

Description: Analyzes, researches, and develops structural engineering specifications involving metals, non-metallic or composite structural materials for product design, or operation of product to include structures, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and electronics, power plant, armament, heating and ventilating, equipment, and maintenance designs. Analyzes damage tolerance, durability, producibility, cost, safety, design allowable and structural modeling. Specific structural engineering specialties may include dynamics and loads, stability and stress fatigue and thermal analysis. Utilizes and validates 3-D and digital modeling to communicate and support production. Tools utilized such as CATIA, IDEAS, Siemens PLM Software NX, ProEngineer and a variety of analytical software applications.

Background/Need: The Structural and Thermal-Fluids Engineering Group develops first-of-a-kind prototype systems across underwater, ground, air, and space domains in support of high-impact national security missions. Group activities include advanced structural and material systems for space-based imaging and laser communications, thermal-management solutions spanning cryogenic through hypersonic environments, and aerodynamic design and assessment for unmanned aerial vehicles, airborne pods, and hypersonic platforms.

Structural engineering expertise is required to support the Group’s prototype development efforts. The Structural Engineer will work across teams and interface with mechanical, electrical, software, thermal, cable, manufacturing, and test engineers to evaluate structural performance, support design maturation, and ensure structural analyses and documentation are complete, accurate, and appropriately controlled.

Other information relevant to the job requirement?

• The Structural and Thermal-Fluids Engineering Group is seeking a Structural Engineer to support the analysis, design, development, and testing of prototype hardware for high-impact national security missions. The successful candidate will have a strong background in structural analysis and finite element modeling, including analysis of structural components, assemblies, and bolted joints.
• The Structural Engineer will develop and execute structural analyses using Femap/Nastran, evaluate structural performance and margins, prepare clear technical documentation and presentations, and collaborate across interdisciplinary engineering teams. Additionally, this role will require a significant amount of hands‑on test support ranging from instrumented hammer modal testing to random vibration and shock testing. The candidate will support engineering decisions related to structural design, test planning, risk reduction, and hardware development from early concept development through prototype testing and, where applicable, on-orbit demonstration.
• The successful candidate will work as part of an interdisciplinary engineering team developing operational prototype hardware from concept development through environmental testing and, where applicable, on‑orbit demonstration. Infrequent domestic travel to meetings or field sites may be required, estimated at 10 percent or less.
• The Structural Engineer will perform and document structural analyses throughout the program lifecycle, including finite element modeling, structural and bolted‑joint analysis, margin assessment, and support for resolving structural issues identified during design, fabrication, integration, or test.
• The candidate will coordinate with project management and engineering teams to align structural analysis and test‑support activities with program schedules, identify technical risks, and communicate analysis status and results to program management and sponsors.
• Responsibilities also include maintaining controlled structural engineering documentation, including CAD and analysis files, reports, drawings, procedures, and work instructions, and supporting design reviews, test planning, and digital engineering activities.

Required Skills

• Femap/Nastran structural analysis, including structures, bolts, and margin assessments
• 5 years of SolidWorks or comparable CAD experience
• Engineering documentation, procedures, work instructions, and document control
• MS Office tools, including Word, Excel, Project, and Visio
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and multidisciplinary teamwork
• Degree Level: B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering with 5 years structural analysis experience OR M.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering with 3 years structural analysis experience.

Preferred Skills

• Structural engineering experience for space, airborne, and/or R&D prototype systems
• Modal testing, model correlation, and vibration testing experience
• Shaker-table vibration and shock testing experience
• Thermal or coupled thermal-structural analysis experience
• Materials characterization or material-property assessment experience.

Others

• Clearance: Interim clearance is sufficient to start; candidate will need to clear to a TS level upon start.
• Work Location: Successful candidate will start 100% onsite until team is comfortable with on-boarding status. After ~6-9 months, working a minimum of 4 days onsite. Non-local candidates would need to fully relocate at the start of the position to be considered.
• Interview Process: Interview process will be over two rounds: an initial screening phone call, and then a second round in person interview. A second-round virtual interview is acceptable for relocation candidates.