Job Listing Description

The Specialist Loads Engineer will be responsible for advancing the external loads development for the suborbital spaceplane SpaceShipTwo, the mothership Eve, and other special projects. The Specialist Loads Engineer will also be responsible for providing technical leadership and mentorship, promoting a culture of continual improvement and quality within the Loads Team.

Virgin Galactic is seeking a seasoned engineer with experience in loads, dynamics, aerodynamics, and structures. The candidate will build on an intimate knowledge of all aircraft systems. The engineer will also support instrumentation planning, mission control preparation, data processing, and model evaluation for flight testing and vehicle envelope expansion.

Support loads event simulation model development and validation of loads criteria for suborbital space missions and other unconventional configurations Support pre-flight preparation including review of test limitations, flight test plans and procedures, flight readiness reviews, mission control room support, and post flight analysis Work with other internal and external engineering groups to ensure proper application of design and loads requirements Develop airframe and component loads for structural design and qualification Support entry into commercial service by ensuring that regulatory and internal company requirements related to loads are met Develop standardized analysis and reporting tools Perform model updates from data collected during vehicle or component testing and data created with analytical tools Develop and maintain loads databases representing all mission phases Develop and substantiate rational loads criteria and requirements for unique vehicles with unconventional configurations Provide technical leadership to teammates Develop and improve standards, processes, and best practices Organize and plan own work and that of other teammates Lead projects, peers, and cross functional teams to solve complex problems and manage risk Innovate measurable improvements and propose creative approaches to novel problems Mentors junior engineers; support individuals and teams in their technical development

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, and/or equivalent, with a minimum of 10 years of related experience Test planning experience, including flight and ground testing, writing test plans, instrumentation selection and planning, and data verification Test execution experience, including familiarity with standard flight test practices and safety processes Experience in flight test aerodynamic and loads model validation and correlation Experience with full aircraft analysis transonic required, launch vehicle desirable, supersonic highly desirable Working knowledge of aircraft and spacecraft systems Experience with flight dynamics 6DOF trajectory simulation Experience developing aerodynamic loads models and post-processors from CFD or wind tunnel data Familiarity with relevant aerospace standards and structural design criteria (FAA, FAA-AST, NASA, MilSpec, etc.) Advanced programming skills: MATLAB, Python, C, C++ Experience with CATIA V5 and NASTRAN Strong ability to work system tasks, and adept at communicating with multiple interfaces Proven ability to lead technical work in an environment with multiple stakeholders Excellent proactive communication (oral, written, presentation), interpersonal, negotiation and organizational skills Ability to successfully complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision and oversight Applicants must be U.S. persons as defined by the ITAR (22 CFR 120.15)

Preferred Skills and Experience

Knowledge of software development best practices like code review and configuration management Working knowledge of FORTRAN, Simulink, or ZAERO Experience in other Flight Sciences disciplines

Additional Requirements

This role is based out of the Tustin, CA site and is hybrid-remote. The exact onsite/remote split is as required and at the discretion of the Group Lead or Manager. Travel is expected to Mojave, CA and New Mexico sites as required.

As part of our commitment to health and safety, COVID-19 vaccines are required for current U.S. teammates, as well as all newly hired employees.

As of October 1, 2021, all new hires must be able to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, ( "fully vaccinated" means at least two weeks have expired since receiving the vaccination's last dose as recommended by the manufacturer) . If you are offered employment, this requirement must be met by your date of hire.