Take your career to new heights with Astronics! Join our team today as a Structural Analysis Engineer IV!
We're seeking an experienced Structural Analysis Engineer to lead the analysis side of a rapidly expanding portfolio of FAA STC aircraft modification projects. You'll work on high-impact installations for major carriers, turning commercial aircraft into next-generation cargo platforms.
What makes this role special: You'll see projects through their complete lifecycle—from structural analysis to field support—collaborating with design, program management, and airline partners who value your input. You'll act as a mentor to other team members, encouraging their ongoing growth. It's the rare combination of technical depth, strategic visibility, and genuine team culture that makes complex aerospace work feel rewarding.
Position Summary
Astronics Structural Analysis Engineers ensure our products and installations are industry-leading in performance and robustness through advanced FEA, empirical analysis, and physical testing. As a Structural Analysis Engineer IV, you'll bring deep expertise in structural substantiation for STC and OEM aircraft modifications, mentor rising engineers, and collaborate across design, certification, and OEM teams to get groundbreaking aviation technology safely airborne.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform structural substantiation for commercial aircraft radome installations in support of STC and OEM Service Bulletin certification programs.
- Develop and evaluate structural finite element models using FEMAP/Nastran, supported by classical hand analysis methods.
- Analyze aircraft structure, installation hardware, fasteners, joints, fittings, adapter plates, and interface structure for strength, stiffness, stability, bearing, bypass, and combined loading.
- Review loads, drawings, material data, installation layouts, and OEM requirements to establish analysis methods, assumptions, and margins of safety.
- Prepare clear structural analysis reports, substantiation packages, and certification documentation for FAA/EASA, DER/ODA UM, OEM, and customer review.
- Coordinate with design, certification, manufacturing, program management, and regulatory representatives to resolve technical issues and support approval activities.
- Support fatigue and damage tolerance, crack growth, nonlinear dynamic, impact, bird strike, test correlation, and other advanced analyses as required.
- Develop and use engineering tools, scripts, and automation methods using MATLAB, Python, or similar software.
- Provide technical guidance, peer review, and mentoring to junior engineers.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant structural analysis experience, preferably involving aircraft structures or aircraft modifications.
- Proficiency with FEMAP/Nastran and classical hand analysis methods.
- Experience with fastener and joint analysis, load path evaluation, margins of safety, and structural substantiation reporting.
- Working knowledge of aircraft certification requirements and documentation expectations for FAA/EASA, STC, or OEM approval.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work independently with cross-functional engineering and certification teams
- Direct experience working in an engineering/technical organization with strict document control processes and procedures and the ability to adhere to them
- Familiarity with certification of commercial aircraft structures
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with commercial aircraft radome, antenna, or external equipment installations.
- Experience supporting STC or OEM Service Bulletin certification programs.
- Familiarity with OEM structural manuals, stress methods, allowables, and aircraft-specific requirements.
- Experience with composite structure, bonded joints, sandwich panels, or radome structure.
- Experience with AFGROW or NASGRO for fatigue, damage tolerance, or crack growth analysis.
- Experience with LS-DYNA for nonlinear dynamic, impact, or bird strike analysis.
- Experience using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for engineering calculations, data processing, or automation.
- Experience mentoring junior engineers or reviewing structural analysis work.
Compensation:
- The salary range specified is applicable to positions within the State of Illinois and reflects various factors considered in compensation decisions. These factors include, but are not limited to, individual skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and the specific needs of our business and organization. At Astronics CSC, it is uncommon for new hires to receive an offer at or near the top end of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are made based on the unique facts and circumstances of each candidate. The current estimated yearly salary range for this position is $110,000 to $154,000 per year. In addition, you will be eligible for our Quarterly Incentive compensation bonus. Astronics offers a competitive salary, along with opportunities for career growth.
- An offer of employment is contingent on successfully passing a drug test and background check, and applicants who do not successfully pass both the drug test and background check will not be considered for employment.
Benefits Information:
Astronics CSC provides a comprehensive benefits package available to full-time employees, with part-time employees potentially eligible for these benefits on a pro-rated basis.
- Stay Healthy – Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA, HSA, as well as voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention and hospital indemnity.
- Save for the Future – 401K, Profit Sharing & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- The Astronics Corporation Profit Sharing/ 401(k) Plan is a “safe harbor” plan. Under the plan, Astronics has committed to contribute 3% of your eligible wages, with the ability to do an annual discretionary adder on top.
- Find Balance – Employee Assistance Program & Wellness Program
- Time for You – Generous Paid Time Off (PTOS), Volunteer Time Off Program (VTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave.
- Professional Growth - Tuition Reimbursement Program
Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification (formerly Telefonix PDT and Astronics Armstrong Aerospace) serves as the experienced, global market leader for in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) solutions for aircraft. As a systems certification provider, Astronics CSC has worked on over 100 projects for industry partners to upgrade commercial and business aircraft with new passenger power systems, IFEC navigation, communication and flight safety systems. Additionally, Astronics CSC offers proven IFEC hardware systems, flexible design platforms, high customer satisfaction, and long-term relationships with industry leaders to help make the connected aircraft a reality. The company now employs over 300 employees and is a six-time recipient of Chicago’s Best and Brightest Employers to Work For award.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.
Pay: $110,000.00 - $154,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- What are your compensation expectations?
Work Location: Remote
