Casting Welder Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

The Maritime Manufacturing Technology team is responsible for rapidly developing and implementing manufacturing technologies and processes for cutting-edge defense hardware, including deployable static and moving surface, undersea and sea to air vehicles and scaling these products in our new manufacturing facilities.

We are looking for a Stress Analysis Engineer to join our rapidly growing team in Santa Ana, CA to lead stress analysis, materials characterization, and design allowables development for mission-critical maritime and subsea hardware. In this role, you will be the foundational structural authority bridging the gap between classical stress analysis, finite element modeling (FEM), and Materials & Processes (M&P) metallurgy.
You will own the structural integrity of advanced pressure-boundary enclosures, launch systems, and high-consequence maritime structures from clean-sheet architecture through fabrication and qualification testing. This is an individual contributor role with high autonomy and the opportunity to scale into a technical capability lead as the product line expands.

• Structural Analysis & Sizing: Perform classical hand calculations (first-principles, Roark, Bruhn) and advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) including linear, non-linear, buckling, fatigue, and fracture mechanics on complex maritime pressure boundaries, structural enclosures, and mechanism assemblies.
• Material Allowables & Characterization: Define, build, and maintain statistical structural design allowables (A- and B-basis) across primary metallic and composite materials. Define coupon-level test matrices to characterize tensile strength, fatigue, fracture toughness, and environmental degradation.
• Allowables Database Ownership: Serve as the custodian of the centralized allowables database across engineering teams, establishing clear thresholds for requalification when processing, vendor sources, or material lots change.
• M&P and Metallurgy Integration: Act as the primary analysis interface to Materials & Processes (M&P) and Manufacturing Engineering. Translate material specifications, heat treatments, and weld joint efficiencies (WPS/PQR) into actionable finite element models and structural margin calculations.
• Manufacturing Impact & Dispositions: Account for manufacturing-induced effects-including residual stresses, weld shrinkage/distortion, and surface finishes-in structural assessments. Provide rapid, quantitative stress dispositions for non-conformances, deviations, and material anomalies.
• Test Campaign Execution: Drive structural test programs from coupon-level mechanical testing to full-scale subcomponent qualification. Partner directly with internal test teams and external mechanical testing facilities to scope, schedule, and execute test plans.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Structural Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 4+ years (Mid) or 7+ years (Senior) of demonstrated experience in structural stress analysis on high-consequence hardware (aerospace, defense, marine/subsea, or space systems).
• Deep proficiency in both classical hand calculations and commercial FEA tools (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS, Nastran/Patran, or HyperMesh).
• Practical experience developing design allowables using statistical methods (e.g., MMPDS methodologies) and working closely with metallurgy/materials teams on alloy selection, heat treatments, and welded joint efficiencies.
• Strong understanding of heavy metallic fabrication processes (machining, forging, casting, welding) and their influence on fatigue life and structural margins.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, interface with cross-functional design and manufacturing teams, and wear multiple technical hats to drive hardware across the finish line.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

• Prior experience with maritime, subsea, or pressure-vessel structural design (NAVSEA criteria, ASME Section VIII, ABS rules, or deep submergence standards).
• Working knowledge of fatigue and fracture mechanics software (e.g., NASGRO) and damage-tolerance methodologies.
• Hands-on experience coordinating with external mechanical and environmental testing laboratories.
• Familiarity with modern CAD platforms (NX, Creo, SolidWorks) and automated scripting for analysis post-processing (Python, MATLAB).
• Active U.S. DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance.