Structural Design Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer - Space and Air Vehicle Structures

Job Description

This role focuses on mechanical design with a strong emphasis on doors, including hinge and latch mechanism design, within advanced space and air vehicle programs. The engineer will develop complex kinematic solutions in a conceptual design environment, lead and guide structural architecture for primary and secondary composite structures, and support the full product development lifecycle from concept through detailed design. The position requires extensive experience in space vehicle and aerospace structural design and offers the opportunity to mentor junior engineers while contributing to innovative, weight- and cost-optimized solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical systems with emphasis on doors, including hinge and latch mechanisms, ensuring robust, reliable, and maintainable solutions.

• Develop complex kinematic solutions in a conceptual design environment to support mechanisms and moving structures.

• Lead and guide structural architecture definition by identifying and proposing advanced technologies and materials.

• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers in structural and mechanical design, promoting best practices and design standards.

• Support design activities through trade studies, concept development, and interface development to optimize performance, weight, cost, and schedule.

• Create and refine composite primary and secondary structure designs using CATIA and related tools.

• Design structures using high-temperature materials and appropriate forming processes.

• Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) to ensure clear, manufacturable engineering definitions.

• Develop and maintain CATIA part, assembly, surface, wireframe, and composite models in accordance with established design processes.

• Create, manage, and run Global Finite Element Models (GFEMs) that can be utilized by the broader stress team.

• Create and execute Detail Finite Element Models (DFEMs) to support detailed structural analysis and validation.

• Develop simple working finite element models for conceptual design work to validate design principles and support early trade studies.

• Execute design trade studies to evaluate multiple solutions and downselect options that best meet weight, cost, and schedule constraints.

• Collaborate in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment with design, fabrication, assembly, and other key functions to ensure cohesive product development.

• Incorporate knowledge of various material forms and processes into conceptual design trade studies and structural solutions.

• Contribute to the design of aero structures and new product development, including wings, fuselage, vertical tail, and air vehicle doors when applicable.

• Ensure compliance with program design processes, configuration control, and documentation requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

Essential Skills

• Extensive experience in space vehicle design and aerospace structural design.

• Strong experience in mechanical design with emphasis on doors, including hinge and latch mechanism design.

• Proven ability to design complex kinematic solutions in a conceptual design environment.

• Hands-on experience with composite primary and secondary structure design.

• Experience with high-temperature material forming and associated design considerations.

• Proficiency in CATIA, including part design, assembly design, surface and wireframe modeling, and composite workbench.

• Experience using ENOVIA for product lifecycle and data management.

• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) experience.

• Experience in creating, managing, and running Global Finite Element Models (GFEMs) for use by stress teams.

• Experience in creating and executing Detail Finite Element Models (DFEMs).

• Ability to create simple working finite element models for conceptual design validation.

• Knowledge of various material forms and manufacturing processes relevant to conceptual design trade studies.

• Experience executing design trade studies to evaluate and downselect structural solutions based on weight, cost, and schedule.

• Ability to work effectively in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment with design, fabrication, and assembly functions.

• Bachelor's degree (minimum) in engineering; applicants with engineering degrees are strongly preferred over drafter or technical product designer backgrounds.

• Experience with composite design and aerospace structures, including primary structures.

• Recent commercial aerospace structures experience (within the last 10 years), preferably with fuselage or major structural components.

• Proficiency with established aerospace design processes and configuration management.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in wing design, including primary and secondary structures.

• Experience in fuselage design, including frames, stringers, and clips.

• Experience in vertical tail design and related aero structures.

• Experience in air vehicle door design, including mechanisms and sealing interfaces.

• background in aero structures, product development, and new design programs.

• Experience with commercial original equipment manufacturer (OEM) programs or major aerostructures suppliers.

• Experience working with fuselage structures and commercial aircraft structures.

• Familiarity with composite workbench and advanced composite design techniques.

• Ability to guide and mentor junior engineers in structural and mechanical design.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to weight, cost, and schedule optimization.

• Comfort working on long-term projects and supporting complex, multi-disciplinary programs.

Work Environment

The role is based onsite in a manufacturing facility and requires presence on campus to perform the work effectively. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a full-time schedule supporting ongoing aerospace development programs. The engineer will work closely with design, fabrication, assembly, and stress teams in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment, using tools such as CATIA, ENOVIA, and finite element analysis software. The facility environment is typical of an aerospace manufacturing and engineering setting, combining office-based design activities with periodic interaction on the shop floor to review hardware, interfaces, and build processes. This is a long-term contract role, with a minimum 12-month assignment supporting a major aerospace program onsite.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Wichita, KS.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $80.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Wichita,KS.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.