Structural Dynamics Engineer II

Structural Dynamics Engineer

As an end-to-end responsive space company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. Our small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles allow us to service the entire lifecycle of government and commercial missions from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. We utilize carbon composite structures, patented propulsion technologies, and common components across our vehicles to iterate quickly, improve reliability, and deliver payloads at a lower cost.

We are seeking a Structural Dynamics Engineer to serve as the domain expert in high-frequency dynamics for launch vehicles and spacecraft. This role focuses on the advanced analysis, modeling, derivation, and verification of complex dynamic environments—including random vibration, shock, acoustics and engine dynamics—through flight data processing, empirical and physics-based methods, and high-fidelity numerical simulation.

The engineer will act as a technical authority, providing leadership and guidance to design, propulsion, test, and structures teams to ensure structural integrity, mitigate dynamic risks, and enable mission success under the extreme conditions of launch and flight.

Responsibilities

• Random vibration
• Derive levels using flight data as well as duration using SMC-S-016 method and damage based analysis
• Derive lift off random vibration level using NASA-SP8072
• Derive ascent random vibration level using barret method, spann method or other empirical method to support early design cycles
• Applies advanced signal-processing techniques for root-cause analysis and anomaly resolution
• Shock
• Derive levels using flight data
• Derive levels using source shock amplitude and transmissibility as well as attenuation
• Serves as recognized authority on shock attenuation and transmissibility mechanisms
• Utilizes vibro-acoustic software to investigate and resolve shock-related phenomena
• Engine dynamics
• Leads rotor-dynamics analyses to evaluate pump bearing and impeller blade performance
• Provides technical direction for engine test-stand instrumentation (accelerometers, microphones, pressure transducers, and specialized sensors)
• Processes and interprets engine test data (acceleration, acoustic, and pressure) to support anomaly resolution and design improvements
• Applies flow-induced vibration (FIV) principles to pressurized line-set and component design
• Analyzes acoustic cavities and their coupling effects on engine vibration response
• Advanced Structural Dynamics Methods
• Applies frequency-based substructuring (FBS) techniques to integrate test and analysis models
• Develops Craig-Bampton reduced-order models in Nastran for spacecraft delivery to launch-vehicle providers in support of coupled-loads analysis (CLA)
• Defines and implements custom Craig-Bampton reduction processes when standard outputs require custom recovery
• Additional Senior-Level Expectations
• Mentors junior and mid-level dynamics engineers and serves as technical authority on high-frequency dynamics issues
• Drives technical risk reduction across programs through independent reviews and trade studies
• Collaborates with propulsion, structures, and test organizations to ensure seamless integration of dynamics requirements and test results
• Presents dynamics analyses and findings to program leadership and external customers

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree (Master's or PhD strongly preferred) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 1+ years of progressive experience in structural dynamics, with a strong emphasis on high-frequency dynamic environments for launch vehicles or spacecraft.
• Deep domain expertise in:
• Random vibration and shock environment derivation (flight data, SMC-S-016, NASA-SP-8072, Barrett/Spann methods, damage-based analysis)
• Rotor dynamics, flow-induced vibration (FIV), and engine acoustics
• Shock transmissibility, attenuation mechanisms, and vibro-acoustic analysis
• Frequency-based substructuring (FBS) and Craig-Bampton model reduction techniques
• Advanced proficiency in Nastran (including custom Craig-Bampton reduction) and…