Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Structures & Airframe

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, wing and empennage are composite and designed in-house, with aluminum substructure and fittings. As a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer on the structures team, you will be given ownership for the hardware product lifecycle of the airframe. You will be responsible for the design, analysis, and oversight of manufacturing and validation of primary structure. In order to be successful in this role, you must be someone who is self-motivated, adaptable and is able to lead your own projects to completion in a fast-paced environment. Ideally, you have significant mechanical or structural design experience and a proven track record completing collaborative projects effectively.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the structural mechanical design of aircraft primary structures and airframe, from initial concept through production.
• Develop and champion innovative structural solutions to optimize weight, cost, and performance, often taking the lead on these efforts.
• Develop structural requirements, specifications, and test plans (DVP&R) with minimal guidance.
• Review of static & dynamic load inputs, material properties and test results.
• Independently perform analyses using FEA and hand calculations to predict performance under various loading conditions (static, dynamic, fatigue, etc.).
• Lead and oversee structural testing, expertly analyze test data, and take ownership of generating detailed test reports.
• Proactively investigate and resolve complex structural issues that arise during development and providing robust design solutions.
• Support manufacturing process development
• Mentor and provide significant technical guidance and leadership to junior engineers.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of structural analysis methodologies and best practices within the team.

On a week to week basis, you will be designing components using NX/TeamCenter, performing analysis using various analysis tools (Optistruct, Hypermesh, SimSolid etc.), and/or hand calculations, creating and releasing drawings as well as supporting fabrication of your components. You will also use your strong organizational skills to properly document your work and present your recommendations when decisions are needed.

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).

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• 8+ years professional experience in the design of primary structure for vehicles.
• Expert proficiency in a mechanical CAD tool (e.g., Siemens NX, CATIA).
• Proficiency with FEA software and hand calculations.
• Deep and comprehensive understanding of engineering fundamentals and advanced structural mechanics principles.
• Extensive knowledge of aerospace materials (metals, composites, etc.) and their behavior under complex loading scenarios.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts.
• Strong understanding of the fundamental mechanics of composite materials. Mechanical characterization of composites and non-destructive inspection
• Proven ability to work independently and lead technical aspects within a team environment.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have:

• Thorough familiarity with aerospace design and regulatory standards (e.g., FAA, EASA).
• In-depth understanding of composite material mechanics and experience with composite structural analysis.
• Experience with hands-on production of composite and aluminum parts. Strong grasp of capabilities and limitations of a range of manufacturing methods.
• Significant experience with structural testing methodologies, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Demonstrated experience with hand-calculation methods for preliminary and verification structural analysis.
• Proven capability to take designs from concept through to analysis and production, working independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of mechanical manufacturing fundamentals, including advanced GD&T concepts and application.

Education:

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