Structural Dynamics & Aeroelasticity Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States. The role requires travel and support for ground and flight-test activities in laboratories, wind tunnels, and flight-line environments, as well as extended hours and weekends when needed. Applicants must meet U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements and be authorized to work in the United States.

Salary: $115,000–$150,000 USD for Engineer; $155,000–$195,000 USD for Senior Engineer.

Company

hirify.global is a startup defense technology company founded in 2023 that develops autonomous defense platforms and decentralized defense systems.

What you will do

• Own structural-dynamic and aeroelastic finite-element models for unmanned aircraft from concept through flight clearance, including airframe, control surfaces, stores, and landing gear.
• Perform normal-modes, static aeroelastic, flutter, and aeroelastic-loads analyses; establish design criteria, margins, loads assumptions, and clearance recommendations.
• Develop and execute static, modal, aeroelastic, proof, limit, ultimate, qualification, Ground Vibration, wind-tunnel, and flight-flutter test programs.
• Design test fixtures, reaction frames, load-introduction systems, actuator and whiffletree arrangements, instrumentation layouts, procedures, load schedules, and risk assessments.
• Operate structural instrumentation and data-acquisition systems, monitor structural response in real time, and reduce test data.
• Correlate measured loads, strains, deflections, frequencies, and mode shapes with analytical predictions; update models and prepare analysis, test, flutter, and certification documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 3–8 years of experience in aircraft structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, flutter, modal testing, or related aerospace analysis and test.
• Ability to perform and interpret structural-dynamic and aeroelastic analyses, including normal modes, flutter, and aeroelastic loads.
• Experience planning, executing, and documenting structural or modal test programs and correlating test results with finite-element models.
• Proficiency with finite-element analysis tools such as MSC Nastran or equivalent, and engineering scripting in MATLAB or Python.
• Working knowledge of aerospace test instrumentation and data-acquisition systems, plus digital signal processing for structural dynamics and modal testing.
• Ability to develop test and analysis plans, write clear technical reports, troubleshoot analytically, and communicate across design, stress, flight sciences, flight test, and manufacturing.
• Ability to travel and support laboratory, wind-tunnel, and flight-line ground and flight-test activities.
• Availability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering focused on structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, or flight sciences.
• Experience creating and maintaining Global Finite Element Models, including component assembly, load-path verification, and model checkout.
• Experience with flight-envelope clearance, flutter analysis, Ground Vibration Test correlation, flight-flutter-test support, and written flutter substantiation.
• Hands-on experience with Ground Vibration Testing, Experimental Modal Analysis, Operational Modal Analysis, and modal-parameter identification.
• Experience with static and dynamic wind-tunnel testing, aeroelastic and flutter-model testing, calibration, and data reduction.
• Experience with aeroservoelasticity, control-surface freeplay, actuator modeling, and closed-loop flutter.
• Familiarity with applicable airworthiness and loads/flutter criteria, including MIL-A-8870, JSSG-2006, MIL-STD-1530, 14 CFR 23/25.629, or equivalent customer specifications.
• Experience with high-aspect-ratio or flexible unmanned airframes, store configurations, rapid prototyping, or incremental-clearance programs.
• Proficiency with FEMAP, HyperMesh, ANSYS, ZAERO, Nastran SOL 144/145/146, LabVIEW, NI DIAdem, Siemens Simcenter Testlab, Dewesoft, Crystal Instruments EDM, or equivalent tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup environment focused on rapid innovation, advanced manufacturing, autonomous defense platforms, and national security.
• Competitive base salary with performance-based incentives and equity participation.
• Healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off.
• Funding for continuing education, training, and career growth.
• Compensation tiers and decision-making are presented with transparency.