Level 3 Communications, Inc

Senior Mechanical Thermal/Structural Analysis Engineer

Level 3 Communications, Inc$100K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering with 6+ years of mechanical engineering experience, or a graduate degree with 4+ years, or 10+ years in lieu of a degree.
  • Strong experience in thermal and structural analysis, specifically in aerospace applications.
  • Proficient with analysis tools such as LANMIN, PATRAN, FEMAP, and/or NASTRAN.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills to convey complex technical information.
  • Ability to work independently and manage time effectively within program requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Perform structural and thermal analyses of launch vehicles and components using hand calculations and finite element methods.
  • Support structural dynamics and thermal testing activities by analyzing performance against requirements.
  • Analyze data from launch vehicle missions to understand thermal and dynamic responses.
  • Correlate modeling results with experimental data to validate analysis accuracy.
  • Assess product compliance with thermal and structural requirements from customers and internal standards.
  • Prepare and present technical reports and status updates during team meetings and program reviews.
  • Contribute to the development of innovative solutions for complex engineering challenges.

Benefits

  • Flexible work schedule with a 9/80 work pattern, providing every other Friday off.
  • Opportunity for overtime when needed to meet critical project timelines.
  • Dynamic and collaborative team environment.
  • Engagement in significant projects directly impacting national defense.
Full Job Description
Job Title: Senior Specialist Mechanical Thermal/Structural Analysis Engineer

Job Code: 41289

Job Location: Orlando, FL

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

L3Harris Technologies has an immediate opening for a Specialist Mechanical Thermal / Structural Analysis Engineer to join our team in Orlando, FL. This site produces complex single, two, and three-stage air-launched target vehicles used to support ballistic missile defense testing and is the Center of Excellence for Undersea Propulsion manufacturing.

We are seeking a self-motivated individual contributor with strong thermal and structural analysis skills to support large, complex project initiatives of substantial importance to the organization, and to serve as the thermal Subject Matter Expert (SME). The ideal candidate will work under general oversight and provide guidance to more junior analysts. Our small team and fast-paced atmosphere demand the ability to devise simple solutions to complex engineering problems, both independently and by soliciting input from technical SMEs across the organization. This position may require occasional overtime and travel to meet critical schedule milestones.

Essential Functions:
  • Perform structural and thermal static and dynamic analyses at both the launch vehicle (LV) and component levels using classic hand calculation methods and finite element models.
  • Provide support to structural dynamics and thermal testing activities (thermal cycle, TVAC, vibration, shock, acoustic etc.) and assess measured data against requirements.
  • Analyze dynamic response data from launch vehicle missions to define thermal and dynamic environments.
  • Correlate analysis models and test results.
  • Provide assessment of the products ability to satisfy internal thermal and structural requirements as well as those flowed by the customer.
  • Report status and results of analysis tasks at team meetings, design and program reviews.
  • Prepare technical reports documenting all analysis activities.
  • Travel may be required but typically less than 10%


Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and minimum 6 years of prior relevant Mechanical Engineering experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:
  • Solving thermal and structural analysis problems across the target launch vehicle organization by providing support to resolve our most challenging problems that can include the following topics; aerothermal analysis, component thermal analysis, stress analysis, loads analysis, vibration and shock analysis, environments derivation, flight data reduction, and fracture mechanics.
  • Support innovative solutions and understand the balance between engineering judgment versus analysis rigor and when each is appropriate.
  • Demonstrated experience working in several of the following areas:
    • LV or airframe aerothermal analysis
    • Electronic box level thermal analysis (bulk and detailed models)
    • Strength analysis of aerospace structures (primary and secondary)
    • Multiphysics analysis of airframes and/or electronic components
    • Innovative hypersonic thermal protection and structural design
    • Vehicle load path definition and strength analysis
    • Perform analysis to support Nonconformances
    • Dynamic analysis (thermal transient, coupled loads, random vibration, shock, flutter, explicit analysis)
    • Experience with thermal insulation (including ablatives), thermal protection (blankets/shields/tapes/etc), metallic structures and bolted joints
    • Linear and Non-Linear stress analysis of metallic and/or composite structures (skin-stringer, fittings, sandwich panels, etc)
    • Familiarity with classical sizing methods and practices (thermal lumped capacitance, thermal conductance/resistance, heat sinks/pipes, Bruhn, Niu, Roark, etc)
    • Fatigue or damage tolerance and crack growth (hand calcs, NASGRO, VCCT, etc)
    • Analysis tools LANMIN, PATRAN, FEMAP, and/or NASTRAN
    • Provide test support including writing test plans, procedures, and reports, data review/reduction, derivation of loads, force / acceleration limiting, correlating tests such as static pull tests, random vibration, sine vibration, modal, etc., and logistics.
  • Experience within MDA/NASA, the aerospace industry, or related discipline.
  • Ability to manage own time within the program plan requirements.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience with other analysis tools: Ansys Thermal Desktop, Ansys Mechanical, CREO Simulate, etc.
  • Development of software tools (Excel, Matlab, Python, etc) to support detailed analysis and optimization.
  • Identification of opportunities for analysis efficiency improvements.
  • Experience with composites and bonded joints.
  • Optimization using standard industry codes.
  • Experience in non-conforming material review of root cause / corrective action and disposition instructions.
  • Experience with White Belt training, lean manufacturing, and/or 6-sigma practices.
  • Ability to use Creo to interrogate design models and support model preparation.
  • Familiarity with MIL-STD-1540 / SMC-S-016 / MIL-STD-810, or other launch vehicle test requirements document.
  • Familiarity with NASA-STD-5020 or other similar fastener design and analysis specifications.

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