Mechanical Engineer

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.

• →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. 

• 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.