Explicit Dynamic Bird-Strike Analysis Engineer – Altair Radioss

Key Responsibilities
Perform explicit dynamic bird-strike analysis using Altair Radioss for aircraft structural components and assemblies.
Conduct structural integrity assessments of primary and secondary aircraft structures subjected to bird impact and other high-rate dynamic loading.
Develop and execute detailed nonlinear finite element models including:
CFRP composite structures
Metallic airframe structures
Polycarbonate transparencies and windshields
Hybrid composite/metallic assemblies
Fasteners, joints and relevant interfaces
Define appropriate material models, failure criteria, contact definitions, boundary conditions and impact scenarios for bird-strike simulations.
Model bird impact using suitable bird material/constitutive representations, including appropriate SPH or equivalent approaches where applicable.
Perform composite damage and failure assessment, including relevant intralaminar and interlaminar failure mechanisms.
Evaluate structural response including:
Global deformation
Local damage and penetration
Material failure
Delamination
Cracking/fracture
Energy absorption
Residual structural integrity
Assess polycarbonate transparency/windshield response, including deformation, cracking, penetration and containment behaviour under impact.
Perform model setup, mesh sensitivity studies, correlation and verification activities to establish confidence in simulation results.
Post-process and interpret large volumes of explicit dynamic simulation data and identify critical failure modes.
Correlate simulation results with test data and/or physical bird-strike test results where available.
Prepare detailed engineering reports documenting assumptions, methodology, model validation, results, failure mechanisms and conclusions.
Support design substantiation and certification activities through technically robust analysis and engineering justification.
Work closely with structural design, materials & processes, testing and certification teams to develop practical solutions to bird-strike-related structural challenges.
Provide technical recommendations for design modifications, material selection, reinforcement and structural optimization.
Contribute to development and improvement of bird-strike analysis methodologies, modelling standards and best practices.
Required Technical Skills
Strong hands-on experience in explicit nonlinear dynamic FEA.
Mandatory experience with Altair Radioss for impact/dynamic analysis.
Good understanding of:
Explicit time integration and numerical stability
Nonlinear material behaviour
Large deformation and high strain-rate effects
Contact and impact mechanics
Energy balance and numerical quality checks
Failure and damage modelling
Experience in aerospace structural analysis, particularly aircraft primary and/or secondary structures.
Strong understanding of CFRP composite mechanics and failure behaviour.
Experience in modelling composite damage/failure and delamination is highly desirable.
Experience with polycarbonate transparencies, aircraft windows or windshields and impact behaviour is highly desirable.
Ability to interpret and troubleshoot explicit dynamic simulation issues such as:
Negative/unstable energy behaviour
Excessive element distortion
Hourglass energy
Contact instability
Mass scaling
Time-step limitations
Nonphysical numerical effects
Familiarity with pre- and post-processing tools such as HyperMesh/HyperView is preferred.
Knowledge of other FEA tools such as Nastran, Abaqus or LS-DYNA is an advantage.
Strong understanding of aerospace structural substantiation and engineering documentation.
Experience
Minimum 3 years of relevant industry experience in structural FEA / explicit dynamics.
Candidates with 3–8 years of experience in aerospace impact analysis, bird-strike analysis or related explicit dynamic applications are preferred.
Direct experience with aircraft structures, composite structures or aircraft transparencies will be strongly preferred.
Education
B.Tech / M.Tech in Mechanical, Aerospace, Aeronautical or related Engineering discipline.
Desired Additional Experience
Bird-strike certification and regulatory requirements, particularly FAA/EASA bird-impact requirements, is highly desirable.
Experience with 14 CFR / CS-25 bird-strike requirements and associated certification evidence.
Familiarity with aerospace test standards and correlation of simulation with physical impact testing.
Experience with SPH-based bird modelling or equivalent high-fidelity impact modelling techniques.
Experience with scripting/automation using Python, MATLAB or similar tools for pre/post-processing and engineering workflow automation.
Behavioural & Professional Competencies
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to independently investigate complex structural failure mechanisms.
Good technical communication and engineering report-writing skills.
Ability to work effectively with geographically distributed engineering and customer teams.
Strong attention to modelling assumptions, numerical quality and engineering judgement.
Ability to take ownership of analysis activities from model development through technical conclusion and certification support.
Key Deliverables
The successful candidate will be expected to deliver:
High-quality Radioss explicit dynamic bird-strike FE models
Verified and technically justified simulation methodologies
Structural damage/failure assessments for CFRP and metallic airframe structures
Impact response assessments for polycarbonate transparencies/windshields
Correlation and validation studies against test data
Engineering substantiation reports and certification evidence
Design recommendations based on quantified structural response and failure mechanisms
Preferred Candidate Profile
A strong candidate would be an aerospace structural analyst with hands-on Radioss experience, capable of moving beyond simply running simulations to understanding the physics of bird impact, predicting structural damage/failure, validating the model and making an engineering judgement on structural integrity.

Work arrangement
No