Mechanical Engineer – Flight Research
Join Calspan’s Flight Research team and play a key role in advancing aerospace innovation. As a Mechanical Engineer, you will design, develop, and validate aircraft modifications and hardware installations that support cutting-edge flight research programs across Calspan’s fleet of experimental aircraft. Working from concept through implementation, you will plan and execute ground and flight test activities, ensuring designs meet performance objectives while maintaining the highest standards of safety, airworthiness, and regulatory compliance. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and contribute directly to the development of next-generation aerospace technologies in a hands-on flight test environment.
Responsibilities- Design and support the fabrication, and integration of prototype test articles and other unique aircraft modifications and installations to Calspan’s fleet of airborne test beds. These designs include structural, outer mold-line, and cabin modifications.
- Document new designs by using advanced 2D and 3D CAD tools to create detailed component and assembly models and drawings.
- Substantiate aircraft modifications by performing the necessary engineering analysis activities to ensure airworthiness of the installation. This includes classic structural analysis, finite element analysis and other qualitative and quantitative analysis methods.
- Support flight test activities by generating airworthiness documentation packages that include drawings, analysis reports, and test plans.
- Interact and coordinate with team members of varying disciplines in a professional and efficient manner.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 3+ years of experience in the design and analysis of structural components, preferably aircraft structures or aircraft mechanical systems or;
- A combination of education and experience equivalent to above
- Proficiency with 2D and 3D CAD software – preferably NX.
- Experience with finite element analysis.
- Proficiency with classical structural analysis methods and techniques.
- Technical report writing – including test plans and procedures.
- Engineering design process principles, including requirements development, design reviews and formal release processes.
Be Calspan!
At Calspan, we want you to feel supported from day one. Our team members enjoy affordable, competitive benefits; four weeks of PTO; 10 company holidays; onsite training; and opportunities to build skills, grow your career, and make an impact.
Calspan is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Calspan supports safe and drug free workplace through pre-employment background checks and drug testing.
The salary range provided is a general guideline. Actual pay will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and other applicable qualifications. Calspan is committed to pay transparency in compliance with applicable state and local laws.
All candidates must be 18 years of age or older, and eligible to work in the United States without requiring now or in the future Visa Sponsorship.
Salary Range (min)USD $82,000.00/Yr. Salary Range (max)USD $100,000.00/Yr.Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 3+ years of experience designing and analyzing structural components, preferably aircraft structures or aircraft mechanical systems
- Proficiency with 2D and 3D CAD software, preferably NX
- Experience with finite element analysis
- Proficiency with classical structural analysis methods and techniques
- Technical report writing, including test plans and procedures
- Knowledge of engineering design process principles, including requirements development, design reviews, and formal release processes
- Eligible to work in the United States without requiring current or future visa sponsorship
- At least 18 years of age
What We Do
In order to develop the world’s greatest innovations, our customers must overcome many technical challenges to transform their creative concept, into a commercially viable product. To resolve such roadblocks, innovators within the aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation, and motorsports industries seek out the assistance of Calspan. Through our collaborative and flexible approach, diverse skill sets, and unique assets, we assist these innovators by conducting research, testing, and evaluations that accelerate development and reduce time to market. Calspan's diverse workforce has locations all across the country. The transportation division and main corporate headquarters are located in Buffalo, NY and the headquarters for Flight Operations are located in Niagara Falls, NY. Additional test pilot training locations include Patuxent River, MD, and Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The Crash Data Research division has breakout locations in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Calspan Systems provides RDT&E engineering and manufacturing solutions with sites located in located in Newport News and Hampton, VA, San Diego, CA and Ronkonkoma NY. The ASE team provides a host of aerodynamic solutions located in St. Paul MN.
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