Aircraft Stress Analyst

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 750,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Competitive leave

Career progression

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, seeks an Aircraft Stress Analyst to join its advanced engineering team. You will perform detailed FEA stress and fatigue analyses on airframe structures, validating designs for safety and weight optimization.

You will collaborate with design, materials, and test engineers to ensure certification-ready analyses and robust structural performance. You will work with ANSYS, Abaqus, or NASTRAN, and may use Python or MATLAB scripting to automate tasks.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field with structural specialization.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in aircraft stress analysis or structural mechanics in aerospace.
• Proven expertise with commercial FEA software (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN).
• Strong knowledge of materials, fatigue, fracture mechanics, and failure theories.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed stress, strain, and fatigue analysis on aircraft structures using FEA.
• Develop and validate static, dynamic, and thermal FEM models.
• Interpret results, identify failure modes, and recommend design changes.
• Collaborate with design, materials, and test engineers throughout development.
• Ensure analyses meet aviation regulatory requirements (EASA, FAA, SACAA) and internal standards.
• Prepare comprehensive analysis reports detailing methods, results, and conclusions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Python or MATLAB scripting

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace/Mechanical/Civil with solid mechanics/structural analysis

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

NASTRAN

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the aerospace design and manufacturing sector, is seeking a highly skilled Aircraft Stress Analyst to join their advanced engineering team. This role, based in **Stellenbosch, Western Cape**, is essential for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of aircraft components and assemblies under various load conditions. You will perform complex stress analysis using finite element methods (FEM) and other advanced simulation techniques. The successful candidate will work closely with design engineers to optimize structural performance, validate designs, and ensure compliance with stringent aviation certification requirements. This is an excellent opportunity to apply your expertise in structural mechanics to cutting-edge aerospace projects within a company renowned for its innovation and quality in **Stellenbosch, Western Cape**.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform detailed stress, strain, and fatigue analysis on aircraft structures, components, and systems using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software.
• Develop and validate complex FEA models for static, dynamic, and thermal analysis.
• Interpret analysis results, identify potential failure modes, and provide recommendations for design improvements to enhance structural integrity and reduce weight.
• Collaborate closely with design engineers, materials specialists, and test engineers throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Ensure that all analyses meet the requirements of aviation authorities (e.g., EASA, FAA, SACAA) and internal company standards.
• Prepare comprehensive analysis reports documenting methodologies, results, and conclusions.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in FEA techniques, software, and aerospace structural design principles.
• Support structural testing activities and correlate analysis results with experimental data.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of analysis tools and processes.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field with a specialization in solid mechanics or structural analysis.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in aircraft stress analysis or structural mechanics, preferably within the aerospace industry.
• Proven expertise in using commercial FEA software packages such as ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar.
• Strong understanding of material science, fatigue and fracture mechanics, and failure theories.
• Knowledge of aerospace materials (e.g., aluminum alloys, composites, titanium) and their behavior under stress.
• Familiarity with aviation regulations related to structural certification.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and computational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for report writing and team collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and independently manage tasks.
• Proficiency in programming or scripting languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for analysis automation is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund benefits.
• Generous annual leave and paid public holidays.
• Opportunities for advanced training, professional development, and career progression.
• Work on challenging and innovative aerospace projects in **Stellenbosch, Western Cape**.
• Access to state-of-the-art analysis tools and technologies.
• A stimulating and collaborative engineering environment.