Principal Loads & Dynamics Engineer

Anduril Anduril · Defense · Costa Mesa, CA · Maritime & Maneuver Dominance : Maneuver Dominance Engineering : MD - ME

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company seeking a Principal Loads & Dynamics Engineer for their Omen autonomous air vehicle (AAV) team. The role involves structural loads, dynamics, and aeroelasticity analysis to ensure airframe integrity from concept to production, with a focus on tail-sitter aircraft operating in VTOL, transition, and forward flight modes. Responsibilities include developing loads analysis, generating FEMs, conducting aeroelastic studies, flutter analysis, generating flight loads data per MIL/FAR specs, collaborating on structural optimization, reporting findings, and performing dynamics testing.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop structural loads analysis for air vehicles and systems to ensure structural integrity under various flight and ground conditions
  2. Generate and maintain integrated dynamics FEMs for use in loads derivation, aeroelastic flutter and other analyses
  3. Conduct aeroelastic and aeroservoelastic studies to predict and verify aircraft behavior
  4. Conduct flutter analysis to inform vehicle design and ensure flight safety
  5. Generate flight loads data in accordance with MIL and FAR specifications, such as FAR 23, 25, JSSG-2006, and other relevant standards

Skills

Required

  • High-ownership and a bias toward action
  • BS or higher degree in engineering or applied physics with a focus in structures
  • Deep understanding of statics, dynamics, solid mechanics, materials science, finite element analysis and dynamic testing
  • 15+ years of experience in a structures, loads or dynamics related role with high ownership and accountability for hardware outcomes
  • Proficiency in the use of FEMAP/Nastran or similar
  • Highly motivated, self-starting, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision
  • Very organized and willing to establish scope and requirements for ill-defined problems
  • Passion for defending the United States and her allies
  • Viewed as a top tier authority in their domain, with a track record of transformative contributions

Nice to have

  • A prior focus on aircraft flight loads, aeroelastic or flutter analysis, including transonic flight
  • Ability to develop workflow automation tools
  • Familiarity developing loads or structural compliance for JSSG-2006, FAR 23, 25, or similar
  • Structural or dynamics testing experience (system identification, sine, random, shock, flight) – sensor selection, data acquisition, data post-processing

What the JD emphasized

  • 15+ years of experience in a structures, loads or dynamics related role with high ownership and accountability for hardware outcomes
  • Viewed as a top tier authority in their domain, with a track record of transformative contributions