Structural Analysis Lead

About CFD Research

Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has delivered innovative technology solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Intelligence & Sensing, and Energy & Materials industries. CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama where laboratory facilities and headquarters are located, CFD Research also has office and laboratory facilities in Dayton, Ohio, prototyping test and evaluation facilities in Hollywood, Alabama, and office facilities in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100D registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for Services. CFD Research is a 100% ESOP (employee-owned company) recognized in Inc. Magazine's Inc5000 as a top growing company for four of the last five years.

Responsibilities

• Oversee FEA based structural work including static strength, high speed dynamic impacts, vibrations, fatigue, and crack propagation.
• Experience with turbomachinery and rotordynamics is a plus.
• Lead a growing team of structural engineers providing rapid design recommendations and assessments.
• Identify, scope and direct work in conjunction with the program manager and group SMEs.
• Directly manage and provide technical oversight to the team.
• Identify and manage technical challenges and solutions.
• Interface regularly with Prototype, Test and Evaluation Division engineers located at the company’s Hollywood, AL Engineering Test Center.
• Support in-person meetings 3 times a month.
• Mentor, train and develop members of the team.
• Conduct regular one-on-one career development discussions and biannual performance reviews.
• Manage group budgets, software license allocations (Ansys/Abaqus token pools), and High-Performance Computing (HPC) hardware environments.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years hands on experience with FEA.
• 3+ years experience in team leadership, project leadership or technical mentorship.
• Deep understanding of linear static, dynamic, modal, fatigue, and buckling analyses.
• Proficiency in Abaqus and LS-DYNA.
• Demonstrated ability to perform classical hand calculations to validate FEA models, sanity-check boundary conditions, and verify load paths.
• Solid grasp of isotropic and basic composite material behavior, yield criteria (Von Mises, Tresca), and fracture mechanics basics.
• Knowledge of thermal–structural coupling.
• Experience reviewing structural test data (strain gauges, load cells, vibration sweep testing) to calibrate and validate finite element models.

Desired Qualifications

• Expertise in complex non-linear dynamics, large deformation, plastic collapse, transient thermal-stress coupling, and progressive damage mechanics.
• Deep familiarization with relevant domain codes/standards (e.g., ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code).
• Experience with rotordynamics and associated analysis methods.
• Proficiency in Python, APDL, TCL/TK, or C++ to automate mesh generation, post-processing report generation, and parametric optimizations.

Pay

Competitive salaries and excellent employee benefits, including an employer matching 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Schedule

This role is based in the Huntsville, AL area, and is 100% onsite.