DescriptionAerospace vehicles operate in extreme environments-high-speed flight, intense vibration, shock, and rapid thermal changes. Our Dynamics team provides the fundamental analysis that guarantees safety, performance, and lethality.
As a Dynamics Analyst you will:- Shape the technical direction for high-impact government sponsors.
- Partner with specialists in aerodynamics, structures, and thermal analysis to deliver integrated, multi-physics solutions.
- Influence the next generation of defense technology through data-driven insights and clear communication.
Your primary responsibilities as a Dynamics Analyst will be to ...- Develop and validate mathematical models of aerospace systems using MATLAB and commercial tools (e.g., Abaqus, SIMPACK, ANSYS).
- Translate first-principles physics into robust simulation tools and models.
- Perform first-principles dynamics, vibration, and aeroelastic stability analyses.
- Generate realistic load cases for flight-vehicle simulations.
- Support on-site and off-site shock, vibration, and performance testing and process test data to reconcile results with predictions.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (aerodynamics, structures, thermal, mission planning) to integrate multi-physics solutions.
- Document analyses, produce technical reports, and present findings to internal teams, sponsors, and external partners.
- Leverage internal funding streams to pursue self-directed research, patents, or conference papers.
- Produce concise technical reports, design reviews, and briefings.
- Present findings to internal teams, sponsors, and peer organizations.
QualificationsYou meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...- Have a BS Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
- Have 6+ years of research and/or professional experience in dynamics.
- Are proficient in MATLAB.
- Are willing and able to work full-time based out of the APL campus in Laurel, MD. Telework may be available up to two days per week under certain conditions.
- Have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with a history of important contributions to multidisciplinary teams on a variety of analysis problems.
- Are a demonstrated self-starter with the ability to set direction and work successfully with little supervision.
- Can demonstrate proficiently in one or more related fields. These include but are not limited to Lagrangian dynamics, multi-body dynamics simulation, modal analysis, LabVIEW development, flight hardware qualification, multi-physics simulation, and force reconstruction.
- Have strong written and oral presentation skills; comfortable communicating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Have a willingness to travel up to 5% of the time as needed.
- Are able to obtain Secret level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.
Minimum Rate$105,000 Annually
Maximum Rate$290,000 Annually
