Principal Structural Analyst
On-siteSeattle, Washington, United States
Job Summary
Senior/Principal Structural Analyst sought to support development of Radioisotope Power System structures. Responsibilities include performing detailed mechanical and structural analyses across program phases, evaluating performance against structural limits and design codes (ASME BPVC, AWS D1.1) and NASA standards, applying dynamic and thermal analyses (static, vibration, explicit dynamics), and ensuring compliance through analysis documentation. The role requires mentoring internal analysts, providing guidance to mechanical design teams on sizing and materials, and collaborating with systems, materials, and test engineers to ensure robust, manufacturable hardware designs. In-office in Seattle (South Lake Union) on Tue–Thu with optional remote Mon–Fri; travel <10%. Export-control requirement: U.S. person. Relocation assistance provided. BS or higher in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (MS preferred); 7+ years aerospace/nuclear structural analysis; strong FEA and CAD skills; familiarity with NASA standards and prime-contractor practices; ability to lead analysis efforts in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Required Qualifications
- B.S. or higher in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university (M.S. preferred)
- 7+ years of experience in structural analysis including steady state, random vibration, and thermal environments for aerospace or nuclear systems
- Proficiency with FEA tools (ANSYS Mechanical preferred; Abaqus, Nastran, LS-DYNA a plus)
- Strong background in dynamic structural analysis (random vibration, sine sweep, shock, transient response)
- Experience with NASA standards and verification processes (NASA-STD-5001B, NASA-STD-5012, NASA-HDBK-7005, NASA-STD-7009)
- Familiarity with fracture mechanics, fatigue life estimation, and damage tolerance principles
- Experience generating stress reports and component margins justifications
- Working knowledge of 3D CAD tools (SolidWorks or similar) and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
- Experience working under structured quality systems (NQA-1, AS9100, ISO 9001)
- Excellent technical writing skills and ability to present results clearly
- Self-starter capable of leading analysis efforts with minimal supervision
- Strong collaboration and communication skills
Additional Requirements
- Applicants for employment must be a U.S. person (export controls)
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