Principal Mechanical Engineer - Structural Analyst

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Structural Analyst Hourly rate $54.00-$85.00 (DOE)Location : Cypress, CAEmployer : ACARA Solutions (onsite with our client) ACARA Solutions is seeking a highly skilled Principal Mechanical Engineer - Structural Analyst to join our client's team in Cypress, CA. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge spaceborne EO / IR payloads, focal plane arrays, and advanced sensor technologies for the defense and space industry. Due to the nature of the work our client does, US Citizenship is requiredThis is a contract to possible direct Perform structural and thermal analyses of opto-mechanical, electro-mechanical, and microelectronics systems designed to operate in harsh space environments. Utilize FEA tools (ANSYS), MATLAB, spreadsheets, and hand calculations to evaluate stress, vibration, fatigue, and thermal behavior. Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to support design trades, failure analyses, and program-level design reviews. Derive and decompose system-level structural requirements into subsystem and component-level specifications. Ensure structural and thermal compliance throughout design, integration, and testing phases. Present findings through detailed technical reports, formal presentations, and customer briefings. Serve as a technical leader and subject matter expert for structural and thermal performance within the program. Here's what you'll get : Pay : $54.00 - $85.00 / hr. Hours : 9x80 1st shift. Length : Contract (6 months - 3 years). About Acara Solutions Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide. Required Skills / Qualifications : -Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.-Minimum of 10 years of experience in structural analysis and design.-Minimum of 5 years of experience in structural FEA using Ansys, NASTRAN, Abaqus, or similar tools.-Minimum of 2 years of experience using Ansys Workbench.-Minimum of 2 years of experience in various FEA problems, including non-linear static, modal, random vibration, shock, and fatigue analyses.-Minimum of 2 years of experience with shock, vibration, and thermal testing, with the ability to correlate test results with FEA. Preferred Skills / Qualifications : -Master's Degree.-Good written and verbal communication skills.-Experience in the design and analysis of space hardware and cryogenic systems.-Proven ability to generate FEA results for STOP analyses of optical systems.-Experience utilizing high-performance computing to run large FEA models.-Proficiency in using solid modeling tools such as Creo or SolidWorks.-Ability to write functions in Ansys APDL and create MATLAB or Python scripts for processing FEA data.-Highly motivated. Additional Information : -Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check and a drug screen.-In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. -Successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a [Secret / Top Secret / etc.] DoD security clearance. Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race / Color / Gender / Religion / National Origin / Disability / Veteran. Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.