Staff Engineer, Landing Gear Systems - Ranger (R6294)
Seattle · USD 170,000-250,000 / year · Onsite · Posted Oct 15, 2026
At a glance
- Workplace
- Onsite
- Location
- Seattle
- Salary
- USD 170,000-250,000 / year
About the role
- The Staff Engineer for Landing Gear Systems will lead the architecture, design, and validation of landing gear for autonomous aircraft. This role involves owning the full lifecycle of mechanical systems from initial concept through flight test support.
Responsibilities
- Lead landing gear architecture definition and trade studies to meet vehicle mass, volume, and ground handling requirements.
- Own the full CAD design lifecycle from initial concept through drawing release.
- Perform first-principles classical stress and fatigue hand calculations.
- Conduct finite element analysis including linear/non-linear, modal, and buckling assessments.
- Size and select wheels, tires, brakes, shock absorption systems, and steering mechanisms.
- Author technical specifications and statements of work for landing gear components.
- Define verification test plans and support drop test campaigns.
- Execute functional validation against performance requirements.
- Support prototype assembly, ground taxi testing, and flight test operations.
- Perform root-cause investigations and implement rapid design changes.
Requirements
- B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Deep mastery of classical solid mechanics, kinematics, dynamics, and fatigue.
- Expertise in materials selection, heat treatments, and surface treatments.
- Proficiency in GD&T and tolerance stack-up methodologies.
- Demonstrated capability performing closed-form hand calculations and FEA analysis.
- Extensive experience in 3D CAD modeling, mechanism layout, and drawing release.
- Proven track record sourcing aerospace hardware and collaborating with suppliers.
- Ability to self-direct and deliver functional hardware under tight timelines.
- Secret clearance eligibility.
Preferred qualifications
- Direct experience with UAV, autonomous aircraft, or rotorcraft landing systems and arresting gear integration.
- Familiarity with aerospace structural, environmental, and mechanism drop-test standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, RTCA DO-160, AS6053, MIL-A-8866/MIL-A-8867).
- Hands-on machine shop, fabrication, or mechanical assembly experience in a prototype or rapid R&D environment.
Benefits
- Bonus
- Benefits
- Equity
Workplace
- Role is based in Seattle.
Skills
- Siemens NX
- CATIA
- Creo
- FEA
- CAD
- PLM
- GD&T
