Position Summary: The Design Validation Engineer II "Crash Simulation Engineer" is responsible for independently executing structural and crashworthiness validation activities for aircraft seating systems. This role provides specialized technical expertise to demonstrate compliance with FAA, airframer, airline, and internal structural requirements through advanced numerical analysis, classical engineering methods, and correlation with physical test evidence.
The position plays a critical role in certification programs and new product development by owning analysis models, evaluating worst-case loading conditions, and driving design robustness through predictive simulations and data-driven engineering judgment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, other duties may be assigned:
- Execute structural design validation for aircraft seating systems to demonstrate compliance with FAA, airframer, airline, and internal requirements using classical analytical methods, advanced finite element analysis (FEA), and supporting physical test evidence.
- Perform linear and non-linear static analysis and dynamic crash simulations (e.g., 14G / 16G conditions) using LS-DYNA and equivalent solvers to assess structural integrity, occupant safety, and certification compliance.
- Develop, own, and maintain finite element models by defining appropriate boundary conditions, material properties, load cases, and modeling techniques to realistically represent certification and operational scenarios.
- Analyze and correlate physical test results with analytical models to validate assumptions, establish confidence in simulation accuracy, and support certification substantiation.
- Provide technical guidance to certification programs through assessment of critical load cases, test configurations, and worst-case structural conditions in accordance with regulatory and customer requirements.
- Drive structural design improvements by evaluating load paths, margins of safety, failure modes, and robustness across multiple configuration variants.
- Collaborate with design engineering teams on development of new components and seat architectures by providing predictive analysis input and validation feedback to influence early design decisions.
- Review and assess engineering drawings, MRB dispositions, concessions, and design deviations by performing structural impact assessments to ensure continued compliance with certification and structural integrity requirements.
- Review and witness component qualification, certification, and abuse load tests by evaluating test plans, setups, and acceptance criteria.
- Author and review technical analysis summaries and engineering substantiation documentation to support certification findings and internal technical reviews.
