Hiring: Senior Loads and Dynamics Engineer - Aeroelastics and Rotordynamics Company: Zipline Location: South San Francisco, CA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-11 10:33:46 Employment Type: On-site Target Skills & Keywords : Assembly, Design System, MATLAB, Python, Shell About the job Experience: •5 years experience in structural analysis for aircraft or complex aerospace vehicles working with metallic, composite, and polymer structures; must have hands-on hardware experience •Minimum 5 years experience in structural analysis for aircraft or complex aerospace vehicles working with metallic, composite, and polymer structures; must have hands-on hardware experience Required Skills: •Own and maintain the top-level Global Finite Element Model (GFEM): set and enforce standards for material properties, numbering, interfaces, model fidelity, and validation procedures. Ensure GFEM is the go-to single source of truth resource for the team. •Produce rapid analysis studies and design guidance: perform hand calculations and create lightweight beam/shell FEMs to drive design trades; deliver updated models and results within 24–48 hours to match evolving configurations. •Test planning and correlation: define pre-test predictions, instrumentation plans, and post-test correlation workflows; tune models to test data and drive model agreement to within target tolerance (e.g., stiffness and key stress results within :5% for validated modes and load paths). •Failure investigation and corrective actions: lead root-cause investigations for test and field failures, generate corrective design changes, and work with manufacturing, design, reliability, and test teams to close actions and update inspection criteria. •Cross-functional ownership and tooling: collaborate daily with design, systems, reliability, test, and flight operations; level up the company’s engineers by creating and documenting standardized in-house FEM tools, verification checklists, and model-release processes; mentor 3–5 contributors who feed into the GFEM. •Field and flight-test support: support flight-test campaigns and field remediation events on-site, execute rapid test fixes, and prioritize fleet-impacting issues to minimize downtime and preserve flight schedules. Resolve test issues (hours) and provide corrective action direction for issues found in qualification testing •Measurable outcomes you will be accountable for: reduction in product level cost per delivery, GFEM release cadence (e.g., weekly/monthly to match config updates), reduction in structural repeat failures across fleet, mass or margin improvements from design trades, and model-to-test correlation metrics. Qualifications: •Demonstrated ownership of a top-level GFEM or equivalent system-level model integrating multiple subsystem inputs; experience managing contributions from 3–5 engineers. •Deep capability with industry-standard tools (examples: NX, FEMAP/NX Nastran, ANSYS, Siemens Design Center), and proficiency scripting in Python or MATLAB to automate workflows and reports. •Solid classical stress and dynamics background: Roark/Bruhn-level hand-calculation fluency plus structural modes, random vibration, and forced-harmonic analysis experience. •Demonstrated success in experimental correlation: defining instrumentation, producing pre-test predictions, and tuning models to match static/dynamic/flight tests within engineering tolerances. •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 Compensation: •$150,000 - $215,000 / year Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!