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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Director, Loads & Dynamics - **Company:** Vast, Inc - **Location:** Long Beach, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $188,600.0 - $267,720.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Abaqus, Systems Engineering, Femap, Hardware Design, Nastran (Computer-Aided Design Software), Software Requirements Analysis, Systems Integration, Test Data, Data Processing, Ansys - **Published:** June 20, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8059a890f39bc6bc ## About the Role Do you have experience in Vibration analysis?, Do you have a Bachelor's degree in engineering?, The ideal candidate will bring extensive technical expertise in spacecraft or launch vehicle dynamics, proven experience building and leading high-performing engineering teams, and a track record of delivering complex aerospace programs from concept through flight operations., * Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline. * 12+ years of engineering experience in aerospace or other safety-critical industries. * 5+ years of engineering management experience, including experience managing managers or leading multiple teams. * Extensive experience in loads and environments prediction, structural dynamics, vibration, acoustic, shock, and coupled systems analyses for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other flight-critical systems. * Deep expertise in structural dynamics fundamentals, finite element methods, and systems integration principles. * Proven track record supporting hardware development through full product lifecycle, including qualification, certification, launch, and flight operations. * Proficiency with industry-standard analysis tools such as FEMAP/NASTRAN, ANSYS, Abaqus, or equivalent. * Experience owning department-level budgets, resource planning, and organizational development. * Experience working with cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, and program management organizations., * Master's degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Dynamics, or a related technical discipline. * Experience leading Loads & Dynamics organizations responsible for multiple spacecraft, launch vehicles, or flight-critical system programs. * Proven success delivering complex aerospace programs from concept through qualification, integration, launch, and on-orbit operations. * Technical authority-level expertise in modal analysis, quasi-static loads, random vibration, sine vibration, shock, acoustic environments, transient dynamic response analysis, and coupled loads analysis. * Extensive hands-on experience overseeing vibration, acoustic, shock, and modal testing campaigns in laboratory, production, and launch site environments. * Experience developing organizational capabilities for finite element model development, correlation, and certification using test and flight data. * Deep familiarity with coupled loads analysis (CLA), spacecraft dynamic environments, launch vehicle integration requirements, and payload certification processes. * Expert knowledge of spacecraft launch load environments and industry standards such as SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000A, MIL-STD-810, NASA-STD-5002, and NASA-STD-7001. * Ability to communicate complex structural dynamic concepts clearly to executive leadership, customers, and multidisciplinary engineering organizations. * Strong strategic thinking, analytical, troubleshooting, and root cause investigation skills. * Excellent executive communication, organizational, and collaboration skills. * Experience building and scaling engineering organizations in fast-paced development and manufacturing environments. * Experience interfacing with NASA, DoD, FAA, or commercial spaceflight customers on technical and certification matters. * Passion for advancing the future of human spaceflight and space habitation. ## Description * Lead, scale, and develop the Loads & Dynamics organization, including multiple engineering teams and managers responsible for low- and high-frequency loads and environment predictions across all spacecraft programs and product lines. * Define and execute the long-term technical strategy and roadmap for the Loads & Dynamics discipline, aligned with company objectives, program milestones, and business growth plans. * Own department-level budget, headcount planning, capital investments, and resource allocation decisions to support current and future program needs. * Drive execution excellence across the full product lifecycle, including concept development, requirements definition, analysis, testing, verification, qualification, flight support, and on-orbit operations. * Establish and maintain system-level dynamic models, load cases, environments, and methodologies to support spacecraft design, integration, certification, and operations across multiple vehicle programs. * Define internal loads and environmental requirements derived from system-level requirements, including quasi-static, random vibration, shock, and acoustic environments. * Provide technical authority and oversight for vibration and shock requirement tailoring, test planning, and qualification verification activities across all programs. * Lead the development, correlation, and continuous improvement of finite element and dynamic prediction models using test data, flight data, and lessons learned. * Establish standardized post-processing tools, methodologies, and best practices for dynamic analyses, test data reduction, and high-speed data processing across teams. * Oversee assessment of vendor and supplier hardware capabilities against internally generated dynamic predictions and qualification requirements. * Partner with senior leadership across Structures, Propulsion, Thermal, Avionics, GNC, Manufacturing, Test, Systems Engineering, and Program Management to ensure integrated vehicle performance and successful hardware delivery. * Lead and oversee technical reviews, design trades, failure investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action efforts related to dynamic environments and structural performance. * Provide executive-level technical leadership for spacecraft qualification activities, including vibration, modal, acoustic, and shock testing campaigns. * Establish organizational priorities, staffing strategies, succession plans, and capability development initiatives to build a world-class Loads & Dynamics team. * Serve as technical authority and risk management leader for dynamic environments, ensuring system performance, reliability, safety, and compliance with aerospace standards, certification requirements, and customer specifications. * Develop and mentor managers and senior engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. * Drive organizational and process improvements that enhance modeling accuracy, analysis efficiency, product quality, and program execution performance across the department. * Build and maintain relationships with external customers, agencies, suppliers, contractors, and test facilities to support development, qualification, and mission success. * Represent the Loads & Dynamics organization in executive leadership forums, program reviews, customer meetings, and industry engagements. ## 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