Senior Structural Dynamics Analyst, Deployable Antenna Structures

What you will do:

Own the integrated FEM of the deployed antenna assembly. Integrate stiffness and mass properties from the component teams at whatever fidelity each can supply, and know where the combined model is weakest.
Perform deployed-state structural performance analysis: modal survey prediction, static deflection under on-orbit loads (thermal, attitude control), and margin of safety verification.
Develop and maintain the structural requirements allocation and error budget, flowing system-level performance requirements down to component-level stiffness, mass, and CTE requirements for each contributing team, and tracking margin consumption as the design changes.
Lead model-test correlation at each level of the V&V test pyramid: produce pre-test predictions, update model parameters from test data only where the change is physically justified, and maintain a documented correlation record.
Analyze antenna deployment (meaning the unfolding on orbit): deployment kinematics, tensioning loads, deployment force margins, and deployment dynamics. Provide test predictions to the Mechanical Test Engineer and work with them to separate gravity-offload rig effects from antenna behavior.
Provide pre-test predictions and structural response interpretation for vibration and shock testing of the stowed antenna assembly, working with the Mechanical Test Engineer.
Assess structural risk of design changes and interface deviations, and provide structural input to anomaly investigations.

Required qualifications:

BS or MS or Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.
Structural dynamics as your primary discipline: modal analysis, frequency response, and eigenvalue methods, demonstrated in work you have done and not only listed as a skill.
Proficiency in FEA (Nastran, ANSYS, Abaqus, or equivalent) for modal, static, and linear dynamics problems.
Personal responsibility for at least one model-test correlation against modal or vibration test data, including a case where the model and test disagreed and you found out why.
Ability to build and maintain a system-level integrated FEM incorporating inputs from multiple contributing teams at different fidelity levels.
Structural analysis of flight or high-reliability hardware, including margins and requirements compliance.

Preferred qualifications:

BS or MS or Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.
Structural dynamics as your primary discipline: modal analysis, frequency response, and eigenvalue methods, demonstrated in work you have done and not only listed as a skill.
Proficiency in FEA (Nastran, ANSYS, Abaqus, or equivalent) for modal, static, and linear dynamics problems.
Personal responsibility for at least one model-test correlation against modal or vibration test data, including a case where the model and test disagreed and you found out why.
Ability to build and maintain a system-level integrated FEM incorporating inputs from multiple contributing teams at different fidelity levels.
Structural analysis of flight or high-reliability hardware, including margins and requirements compliance.

Additional Requirements

This is a fast-paced, high-impact environment - flexibility to occasionally work extended hours or weekends during critical periods is expected.