The Structures Company is seeking a Test Engineer - Airframe & Actuators/Structures in Santa Cruz, CA.

Overview

Working as a Structural Test Engineer, you will support the Testing Team. As part of this team you will perform structural testing of flight critical structures for VTOL electric aircraft. Working in our structural test lab facility, the structural test engineer will prepare test procedures, assembly test setups, execute tests and analyze and report test data.  The data collected during these tests will inform the company’s hardware design efforts and pave the way to safe, production-ready airframes.

Responsibilities

• Create test setups to validate the structural characteristics of primary and secondary aircraft structures (primarily composite) by working closely with the aircraft design teams to capture the nuances of aircraft design loads and operating conditions.
• Develop formal test plans, test procedures, instrumentation plans, test stand/fixture designs, data acquisition architectures, and any other necessary tools to allow for thorough and repeatable testing of specimens as discussed.
• Analyze data collected during the aforementioned tests to generate reports that will provide quantifiable feedback to the engineering teams that will allow them to optimize their designs.

Required

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant discipline
• 2+ years of work experience in relevant industry.
• Excellent problem solving and communication skills.
• Strong analytical background.
• Hands-on attitude.
• Experience with testing of composite structures.
• Experience using sensors sauch as foil strain gauges, linear potentiometers, string potentiometers accelerometers, etc. (including sensor installation).  
• Fluent in data acquisition techniques, signal conditioning, and data processing techniques associated with above sensors.
• Experience with mechanical design of complex assemblies and manufacturing drawing creation, including weldments.
• Proficiency in Computer Aided Design.

Desired

• M.S./Ph.D in relevant discipline.
• 5+ years of work experience in relevant industry.
• Experience with industrial test laboratory enviornments and procedures. 
• Experience with Dassault Systemes CAD, specifically using Generative Shape Design, Part Design and Assembly Design.
• Experience testing aircraft composite structures.
• Experience working with fiber optic strain gauges.
• Hands on machine shop skills using lathe, mill, welder, and other machine shop equipment.
• Aircraft homebuilding or rapid prototyping experience is a plus.

For immediate consideration, please send resumes to gus.sanchez@thestructurescompany.com

The Structures Company is a national staffing firm specializing in contract, contract to hire and direct hire placement opportunities.  Our clients rely on us to support their engineering, IT, Production, Maintenance & Repair and support staff. Our niche recruiting team is one of our biggest strengths and is the main reason we are a top provider of talented professionals to the majority of our clients.  They will help you identify the opportunity that best fits your interests, while also providing industry leading customer service.

We support the majority of Aerospace OEM's and Tier 1 Suppliers across the United States.

We have a national medical, dental and vision plan with Cigna Healthcare and we also have a 401K offering.  In some states and on some openings, there is bonus potential, sick pay and holiday pay for those who qualify.

The Structures Company LLC is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer (or AA/ EOE)