Structural Engineer (Mechanical)

ALTEN Technology USA
Mountain View, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience in mechanical structural analysis for aerospace or UAV systems.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with mechanical structural analysis experience in aerospace or UAV systems
    — “optimize the airframe and ground systems (docks) designs of our drones”
  • Individuals with a background in FAA regulatory compliance for aerospace projects
    — “familiarity with the aerospace regulatory environment (FAA airworthiness requirements)”
  • Professionals adept at material selection and weight optimization for structural components
    — “Drive weight reduction through design optimization”

Things to consider

  • On-site presence is required for 5 days per week in Mountain View, California
    — “Workplace: On-Site, 5 days per week”
  • Candidates must complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire
    — “All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience with FEA tools like ANSYS or Nastran in your resume and interview
    — “Strong FEA experience (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, Nastran)”
  • Showcase your ability to evaluate load cases and failure modes in structural design
    — “Evaluate load cases, fatigue, and failure modes”
  • Emphasize your track record in material selection and weight reduction for aerospace applications
    — “Select materials based on strength, weight, cost, and manufacturability”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful structural analysis and design
  • weight reduction and material selection
  • test correlation and validation
Typical background
BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering5+ years of structural analysis and design experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Structural AnalysisFEAHand CalculationsWeight ReductionMaterial SelectionLoad Case EvaluationFatigue AnalysisFailure Modes Analysis

Preferred

UAV Or Aerospace Airframe ExperienceComposite Structures DesignTopology Optimization ToolsMS In A Structural Discipline

Stack & domain

Structural AnalysisFEAHand CalculationsWeight ReductionMaterial SelectionLoad CasesFatigueFailure ModesDesign ChangesTest CorrelationValidationAnsysAbaqusNastranComposite StructuresTopology OptimizationAerospace Regulatory EnvironmentFAA Airworthiness RequirementsCommunicationProblem SolvingTeamworkLeadershipAdaptabilityResilienceAerospaceMechanical EngineeringStructural Engineering

About the role

Original posting from ALTEN Technology USA via Greenhouse

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Structural Engineer (Mechanical)

Workplace: On-Site, 5 days per week

Location: Mountain View, CA

Role Overview

Our client is the first non-military unmanned aircraft company to receive FAA Type Certification (2022) and operate under an FAA Production Certificate. We are seeking a Structural Engineer, focused in mechanical design, to optimize the airframe and ground systems (docks) designs of our drones as the initial design matures, with a focus on weight reduction and material selection driven by structural analysis.

Responsibilities

Perform structural analysis (FEA and hand calculations) on airframe and dock structures

Drive weight reduction through design optimization

Select materials based on strength, weight, cost, and manufacturability

Evaluate load cases, fatigue, and failure modes

Recommend design changes and document analyses

Support test correlation and validation

Required Qualifications

BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related field

5+ years of structural analysis and design experience

Strong FEA experience (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, Nastran)

Structural optimization and weight reduction experience

Materials selection knowledge, including metals and composites

Familiarity with the aerospace regulatory environment (FAA airworthiness requirements)

Preferred Qualifications

UAV or aerospace airframe experience

Composite structures design

Topology optimization tools

MS in a structural discipline

Salary Range

$130,000 - 150,000

The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate’s combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.

Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.

Source: ALTEN Technology USA careers (Greenhouse)

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