Principal Structural Analyst (Aerospace & Defense)

Location: Torrance, California, United States. Work is performed in an office environment.

Salary: $134,640–$247,005 USD annually, depending on level.

Company

Divergent develops integrated engineering and manufacturing systems for automotive, aerospace, and defense applications, including its Divergent Adaptive Production System.

What you will do

• Develop, analyze, validate, and optimize finite element models for structural components, assemblies, vehicles, and aerospace systems.
• Perform linear and nonlinear analyses covering crash, durability, fatigue, vibration, stiffness, thermal, and multiphysics behavior.
• Validate simulations through engineering calculations, physical testing, and correlation activities.
• Recommend structural solutions balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, weight, production efficiency, and certification needs.
• Partner with design, manufacturing, materials, test, and product engineering through concept development, prototyping, validation, and production launch.
• At E06–E07, lead major technical initiatives, establish methodologies, influence program decisions, and mentor engineers.

Requirements

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology subject to U.S. export controls.
• BS or MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of structural analysis experience for E05, 8+ years for E06, or 12+ years for E07 in aerospace, automotive, or related industries.
• Expert experience with Abaqus, LS-Dyna, Nastran, OptiStruct, or equivalent CAE software.
• Experience with nonlinear structural analysis, including crash, durability, dynamic, thermal, vibration, or multiphysics simulations.
• Strong understanding of solid mechanics and structural behavior of metals, composites, adhesives, and advanced materials.
• Experience validating analytical results through engineering calculations and physical testing.
• Excellent communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with aerospace structural certification and MIL-STD requirements.
• Experience supporting DoD, FAA, or other regulatory certification activities.
• Experience developing simulation methodologies or advanced CAE workflows.
• Experience leading structural analysis for complete vehicle or aerospace programs.
• Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience presenting technical recommendations to executive leadership or external customers.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time office-based work in a collaborative, high-performing, mission-driven manufacturing environment.
• Paid vacation, sick time, company holidays, and a year-end shutdown.
• Paid parental leave and HMO or Premium PPO health coverage.
• Company-sponsored life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Equity plan, discretionary results-based incentive opportunities, and learning and development reimbursement.