External Loads Engineer, Level 3 Job Details

Job Title: External Loads Engineer, Level 3

Posting Start Date: 8/20/26

Job Description Header:

Job Description:

Standard Job Description

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in seeking a full-time Structural Loads & Criteria Engineer for the Advanced Development Program (ADP) in Palmdale, California. A successful candidate will apply technical expertise in conducting aircraft external structural loads analyses for ADP. Responsibilities for this position include:
- Use aerodynamic laws and data to determine loads and their distribution
- Perform technical planning and analyses and develop methodology to develop static external aircraft loads and repeated external loads spectrum for aircraft and components
- Interpret aircraft usage data from Flight Data Recorders, mission profiles, and other sources
- Develop initial and final design usage spectra along with operational usage spectra along with continued L/ESS (Loads and Environmental Spectra Survey) analyses and results documentation
- Software design to assist in analyses
- Support wind tunnel, ground, and flight tests by defining loads oriented test requirements and by interpretation of data during and after tests
- Interfacing with the customer and other disciplines (Stress, DADTA, Design, Flight Test, etc.)

-Support component calibrations and data processing

Must be a US Citizen; this position will require a government security clearance. This position is located at a facility that requires special access.

Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in an engineering technical discipline such as Mechanical, Aerospace, or Aeronautical Engineering
- Experience making/updating Finite Element Models (FEM) in ABAQUS/CAE (useful to know Patran, Hypermesh, FEMAP, or similar)
- Proficient in scripting language (MatLab, Python, VBA, C++, etc.)
- Extensive Structural Design Criteria development experience
- Experience developing External Loads for advanced airframes and conceptual designs
- Experience leading a team as a technical lead

Desired Skills

- Experience with structural analysis for preliminary sizing
- Familiarity with CATIA V5
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate in a team-based environment

-Working Knowledge of JSSG-2006 and MIL-STDs related to External Loads

Job Description Footer:

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $95900.00 - $178100.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.