Senior / Staff Loads and Dynamics Engineer

Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for the development and definition of vehicle load cases, including setting and upholding analysis requirements, processes, and standards.
• You will apply first-principles analyses and lead tight design-test-analysis loops to keep our delivery aircraft safe, light, and scalable.

Own loads and dynamics analysis for Zipline’s aircraft

• Perform dynamic analyses of aircraft components, including structural modes, random vibration, and forced harmonic vibration
• Define program loads requirements that support flight performance and vehicle safety
• Build finite element models for structural and loads analyses
• Build and run multi-body simulations assessing the dynamics of everything from nominal flight through to parachute deployment
• Collaborate across hardware, software, and vehicle operations to drive aircraft configuration and performance decisions
• Evaluate static strength and fatigue life of aircraft structures using classical hand calculations and finite element analysis
• Execute dynamic testing from start-to-finish including pre-test analysis, instrumentation, testing, data analysis, signal processing and model correlation. Success will require a hands-on approach and quality time in wind tunnels, the vibration test lab, and on the flight line
• Level-up the engineering organization by providing mentorship, guidance, best practices, and building standardized in-house tools and processes

About You and The Role

In this role, you will use your loads and dynamics expertise to drive hardware and product design decisions.

This role works closely with structures, aerodynamics, GNC, systems, and powertrain engineers to drive system level requirements and vehicle configuration decisions to achieve product level outcomes.

How to know if it's you: Pencil and paper calculations are always your first step, you prefer simple and fast over detailed and large, and you’re excited to get hands on with hardware. On any given day you could be driving design trade studies, supporting flight tests to validate analysis, or working across disciplines to tackle complex system level challenges.

Zipline was founded by engineers dedicated to making the world a better place. We are building a new global industry and are looking for a talented engineer who takes a hands-on approach and will use analysis to drive design. The ideal candidate will be someone who excels in a fast paced, dynamic environment and is excited to own and drive simple, elegant solutions to complex problems.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of industry experience in design and analysis of aircraft structures

Expertise in aircraft loads analysis and structural dynamics

• Deep knowledge of FEMAP/NASTRAN, Siemens Simcenter, or other finite element software
• Experience with Zona, ZAERO, RCAS, NASTRAN SOL144, or other loads analysis tools

Analytical/scientific programming experience (Python, MATLAB)

• Must-have traits: clear owner mentality with rapid decision cadence, tolerance for ambiguity and shifting configurations, disciplined documentation habits, and excellent hardware intuition
• Location: role is based in South San Francisco, CA
• Travel to field sites and test ranges is typically <10% depending on program phase
• Must be eligible to work in the US

What Else You Need To Know

The starting salary range for this role is $150,000 - $215,000. Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities.

We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Zipline ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.