Lead Structural Engineer

Job Title: Lead, Structural Engineer

Job Code: 46128

Job Location: Sacramento, CA or Huntsville, AL 

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked – and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

Join our team shaping the next generation of solid rocket propulsion systems. We are seeking a Lead Structures & Dynamics Analyst for our Huntsville, AL, or Sacramento, CA location. In this role, you will perform structural analysis to verify that product designs meet structural performance requirements and assist with preliminary design verification. We are seeking an experienced structural analyst with a deep technical foundation in aerospace structures, particularly rocket propulsion nozzles, a proactive mindset, and a passion for solving complex problems in high-performance environments.

As a key contributor, you will lead and support structural modeling and analysis efforts for solid rocket motor (SRM) components throughout the product lifecycle — from early development through qualification and production. The role will have a focus on SRM rocket motors, and familiarity with thermal structural analysis and composite structures is key. You will collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary teams, interface with customers, and drive technical excellence.

Why This Role Matters:

You won't just be running models — you'll be influencing major design decisions and contributing directly to flight-critical hardware. This position is a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge propulsion technologies that drive national defense initiatives.

Essential Functions:

• Structural Analysis Ownership: Drive analysis tasks for SRM components with a focus on nozzles, but also including metallic and composite motor cases, insulation, and propellant grains. Ensure structural integrity across all phases of flight and ground handling.
• FEA Modeling & Execution: Build and execute finite element models using ANSYS, ABAQUS, or comparable tools. Model components using isotropic, orthotropic, and viscoelastic material definitions with nonlinear and temperature-dependent properties.
• Load Development: Collaborate with thermal, CFD, and performance teams to establish pressure, thermal gradient, and mechanical loading conditions. In some cases, derive boundary conditions and load cases based on mission and design requirements.
• Closed-Form Support: Apply classical methods to validate and supplement numerical results, especially for preliminary design trades or quick-turn assessments.
• CAD & Geometry Integration: Import and simplify solid CAD models from design teams to develop robust, clean geometry suitable for analysis.
• Margin of Safety Evaluation: Determine margins of safety against yield, ultimate failure, buckling, HCF, LCF, and fracture using established industry-standard practices and internal allowables.
• Documentation & Reporting: Produce high-quality technical reports, stress notes, and presentations that clearly outline methods, assumptions, and conclusions for both internal reviews and external customer delivery.
• Design Integration: Participate in formal and informal design reviews. Communicate results, trade-offs, and risk areas effectively to multidisciplinary audiences, including program management and external customers.
• Process Improvement: Contribute to internal tool development, analysis automation, and knowledge capture to enhance team efficiency and standardization.
• Ability to obtain a US secret security clearance.
• Travel: 10%.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior structural analysis experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior structural analysis experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior structural analysis experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline is preferred.
• Proven experience in linear, nonlinear, and dynamic structural analysis supporting design and qualification of solid rocket motors.
• Proficiency with FEA tools such as ANSYS Mechanical; experience with ANSYS MAPDL or Python scripting is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with structural assessment and design of solid rocket motors is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret aerospace structural requirements and coordinate load development with cross-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of structural instabilities, material nonlinearities, and coupled load environments.
• Exposure to full-lifecycle aerospace SRM propulsion product development, from design through manufacturing and test.
• Strong technical communication skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California is $122,000- $227,000. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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