Structural Dynamics & Aeroelasticity Engineer

The posting, as Mach Industries wrote it

About Mach Industries

Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

The Role

Responsible Engineer for aeroelastic analysis and for the design, execution, and analysis of static and dynamic tests that verify structural strength, load paths, stiffness, and dynamic characteristics of unmanned aircraft platforms. The engineer owns structural-dynamic and aeroelastic models, plans and runs the tests that validate those models, and closes the loop between prediction and measurement.

The role supports the full product development cycle by ensuring that structural performance, strength, stiffness, fatigue life, flutter margins, and dynamic characteristics are predicted, measured, correlated, and validated against certification and design requirements. The engineer works with design, stress, flight sciences, flight controls, manufacturing, and instrumentation to produce airworthy structure and a flight-cleared envelope.

Key Responsibilities

• Own structural-dynamic and aeroelastic finite element models from concept through flight clearance, including mass, stiffness, and damping of the airframe, control surfaces, stores, and landing gear.
• Establish aeroelastic design criteria, flutter and divergence margins, and loads assumptions for new and modified configurations.
• Perform normal-modes, static aeroelastic, flutter, and aeroelastic loads analyses, and deliver design loads and clearance recommendations to stress, design, and flight sciences.
• Assess control-surface mass balance, freeplay, stiffness, and relevant failure modes, and recommend design changes that restore required flutter margins.
• Support configuration trades with aeroelastic screening and recommend stiffness or mass-balance changes that keep the design flutter-free.
• Develop static, modal, and aeroelastic test plans, procedures, load schedules, instrumentation layouts, and risk assessments.
• Design structural test fixtures, reaction frames, load-introduction systems, and actuator/whiffletree arrangements that simulate aerodynamic, landing, propulsion, and operational loads.
• Specify, install, and operate structural instrumentation, including strain gages, displacement transducers, load cells, inclinometers, accelerometers, and thermocouples.
• Conduct proof, limit, ultimate, and component qualification tests, and plan

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s your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long-term success.

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Disclosures

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you’d like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!