Senior Stress Engineer

ALTEN is looking for an experienced Senior Stress Engineer to support an innovative aerospace engineering programme.

You will be responsible for analysing and substantiating aircraft structural components, using both classical stress methods and finite element analysis. Working closely with design, manufacturing, testing and certification teams, you will help ensure structural designs meet performance, safety and airworthiness requirements.

• Location: Bristol
• On Site: Hybrid 
• Clearance: Clearable 
• Experience Level: Senior 

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform static structural and stress analysis across aircraft structures, including wings, fuselage structures, empennage and associated components.
• Build, develop and assess Finite Element Models (FEM/FEA) to understand structural behaviour and verify design integrity.
• Analyse a range of structural loading conditions, including flight, ground and pressure loads.
• Carry out structural substantiation and produce clear, technically robust stress reports and analysis documentation.
• Assess structural margins, identify areas of concern and recommend practical engineering solutions.
• Work closely with Design and Manufacturing Engineers to optimise structural designs for performance and manufacturability.
• Support structural testing activities, including test preparation, analysis correlation and interpretation of results.
• Provide technical input into engineering drawings, design modifications and change documentation.
• Support certification activities and demonstrate compliance with relevant aerospace airworthiness requirements.
• Investigate structural issues and provide technical recommendations throughout the engineering lifecycle.

Required Skills:

• Strong experience in stress analysis within the aerospace industry.
• Experience analysing aircraft or aerostructural components.
• Good understanding of static stress analysis and classical hand calculations.
• Hands-on experience with FEA/FEM tools and structural modelling.
• Experience assessing metallic and/or composite aerospace structures.
• Understanding of aircraft structural loads and load paths.
• Experience producing stress reports and structural substantiation documentation.
• Knowledge of relevant airworthiness and certification requirements.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and work effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with wings, fuselage or empennage structures.
• Structural test correlation experience.
• Experience supporting aircraft certification programmes.
• Knowledge of structural optimisation and design improvement.

Why join us? 

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get: 

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. 

ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.