Senior Structures Engineer

• Los Angeles
• On-site
• Yearly salary: $140,000 - $176,000

Job Description

At Heart Aerospace we develop the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, an electric zero-emission range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km. Heart is targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade.

Our headquarters is based in Gothenburg, Sweden and we are now opening up a R&D hub in Los Angeles, which will focus on the advancement of Heart’s hybrid-electric propulsion system and other key technologies.

Your mission

Heart is building a hybrid, battery-electric regional aircraft to decarbonize and democratize aviation. The aircraft fuselage and wing are fully composite and designed in-house, with aluminum substructure and fittings. As a Senior Structures Engineer on the Aerostructures team, you will be responsible for the design and analysis, and oversight of production and validation of primary structure for the airframe.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the structural design and analysis of aerospace components and systems, from initial concept through to production.
• Perform complex structural analyses using finite element analysis (FEA) and other analytical methods to predict performance under various loading conditions (static, dynamic, fatigue, etc.).
• Develop and substantiate structural requirements, specifications, and test plans.
• Work closely with design, manufacturing, and testing teams to ensure designs are structurally sound, manufacturable, and meet performance requirements.
• Conduct and oversee structural testing, analyze test data, and generate comprehensive reports.
• Investigate and resolve structural issues that arise during development, testing, or in-service.
• Develop and implement innovative structural solutions to optimize weight, cost, and performance.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of structural analysis methodologies and best practices.

You will initially report to the CTO and belong to the Structures Team. Your place of work will be at our office located in El Segundo, CA (Los Angeles).

Skills & Requirements

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• 5+ years professional experience in the design of primary structure for vehicles.
• Proficiency in Siemens NX, or similar mechanical CAD tool.
• Strong engineering fundamentals.
• Strong understanding of aerospace materials (metals, composites, etc.) and their behavior under various loading conditions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Passion for aircraft and Heart’s mission.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have:

• Familiarity with aerospace design and regulatory standards (e.g., FAA, EASA).
• Strong understanding of the fundamental mechanics of composite materials. Mechanical characterization of composites and non-destructive inspection
• Experience with hands-on production of composite and aluminum parts. Strong grasp of capabilities and limitations of a range of manufacturing methods.
• Experience and capability with FEA and hand-calc methods for preliminary structural analysis.
• Capability to go from concept through to analysis and production of composite or metallic parts without requiring support, while working in a cross-functional team including stress analysts and manufacturing engineers on complex structures.
• Mechanical manufacturing fundamentals including GD&T.
• Extensive knowledge of design, analysis, manufacturing, and integration of composite structures.
• Flight experience, for example Private Pilot (PPL) or above.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.