Senior / Staff Rotor Dynamics Engineer

About You and The Role

In this role, you will use your rotordynamics expertise to drive hardware and product design decisions. You will be responsible for the development and definition of rotor and propeller load cases, including setting and upholding analysis requirements, processes, and standards. You will conduct rotordynamics analyses and lead tight design-test-analysis loops to keep our delivery aircraft safe, light, and scalable. This role works closely with structures, aerodynamics, GNC, systems, and powertrain engineers to drive rotor system requirements and rotorcraft vehicle configuration decisions to achieve product level outcomes.

How to know if it's you: Pencil and paper calculations are always your first step, you prefer simple and fast over detailed and large, and you’re excited to get hands on with hardware. On any given day you could be driving design trade studies, supporting flight tests to validate analysis, or working across disciplines to tackle complex system level challenges.

Zipline was founded by engineers dedicated to making the world a better place. We are building a new global industry and are looking for a talented engineer who takes a hands-on approach and will use analysis to drive design. The ideal candidate will be someone who excels in a fast paced, dynamic environment and is excited to own and drive simple, elegant solutions to complex problems.

What You'll Do

• Own loads development for the propellers on Zipline’s aircraft
• Perform dynamic analyses of aircraft propellers, including structural modes, forced harmonic vibration, and rotordynamics simulations
• Define rotorcraft loads requirements that support flight performance and vehicle safety
• Build finite element models of propellers and powertrain components for structural and loads analyses
• Work with the aerodynamics and mechanical engineering teams to design high performance propeller and rotor blades
• Collaborate across hardware, software, and vehicle operations to drive rotorcraft configuration and performance decisions
• Evaluate static strength and fatigue life of dynamic system components, including rotor assemblies,  propeller blades, and motor shafts.
• Execute propeller and aircraft testing from start-to-finish including pre-test analysis, instrumentation, testing, data analysis, signal processing and model correlation. Success will require a hands-on approach and quality time in wind tunnels, the vibration test lab, and on the flight line
• Level-up the engineering organization by providing mentorship, guidance, best practices, and building standardized in-house tools and processes

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of industry experience in design and analysis of rotor and vehicle structures. Preference for experience developing loads for eVTOL vehicles
• Expertise in helicopter/rotorcraft aeromechanics, including aerodynamics, dynamics, loads, stability, and performance
• Deep knowledge of RCAS, CAMRAD II, FlightLab, Dyrobes Rotor, or other comprehensive rotor analysis codes
• Experience with FEMAP/NASTRAN, Siemens Simcenter, or other finite element software
• Analytical/scientific programming experience (Python, MATLAB)
• Must-have traits: clear owner mentality with rapid decision cadence, tolerance for ambiguity and shifting configurations, disciplined documentation habits, and excellent hardware intuition
• Location: role is based in South San Francisco, CA
• Travel to field sites and test ranges is typically <10% depending on program phase
• Must be eligible to work in the US

What Else You Need To Know

The starting cash range for this role is $140,000- $240,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; and more.

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law or our other policies.
We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!