85 Finite Element Analysis jobs in the United States

The Capabilities, Analysis and Development (CAD) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has an outstanding opportunity for an exceptional Senior Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Scientist to support on-going research and development efforts and develop new business in technologies for functional characterization of WMD facilities and their associated design.

Are you a FEA virtuoso with a passion for study the scientific world? Join us as a Senior FEA Scientist and become a key player in characterizing large-scale and small-scale industrial, commercial, and institutional projects. If you thrive on tackling complex challenges and driving innovation in reverse engineering structural processes, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.

This position is contingent upon award of a contract expected in late fall 2025.

The successful candidate will:

• Innovative Design and Development:
  • Characterize the structure of WMD facilities, some of which are clandestine
  • Conduct reverse engineering
  • Design and calculate precise load calculations, system sizing, and performance predictions
  • Create and refine detailed technical drawings and schematics
• Dynamic Project Management:
  • Spearhead projects from vision to reality, delivering on time and within budget
  • Collaborate seamlessly with project managers, architects, and contractor
  • Present compelling project reports and updates to stakeholders
• Cutting-Edge System Analysis and Optimization:
  • Dive deep into physical science analysis to uncover fault exploitation opportunities
  • Advance reverse engineering capabilities
• Inspiring Leadership and Development:
  • Mentor and inspire junior engineers, scientists, and technicians
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative, and continuous learning environment
  • Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering or Physics or similar
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within or lead a team of peers, as well as excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Ability to communicate highly technical analyses at a level comprehensible to laymen and senior-level government representatives
• Ability to clearly express in writing technical analysis results
• Must be a US Citizen
• 6-8 years of experience in solving DoD or Industry FEA science problems
• Practical experience in engineering and science
• Research and Development of new tools and methodologies to understand and reverse engineer processes and support systems at remote WMD-related facilities
• TS clearance

Desired Qualifications:

• 10 years of experience in solving DoD engineering/science problems
• TS clearance with eligibility for SCI based on single-scope background investigation
• Military or defense-related experience and an understanding of operational planning and functional defeat of hard targets and underground facilities

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 1200 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at

Please apply at for the Senior Finite Element Analysis Scientist position.

• 6 - 8 years: Relevant work experience

• Masters or better in Engineering or related field

• Thought Provoking: Capable of making others think deeply on a subject
• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Innovative: Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
• Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
• Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest
• Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
• Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

• Self-Starter: Inspired to perform without outside help
• Growth Opportunities: Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility
• Goal Completion: Inspired to perform well by the completion of tasks
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Inspired to perform well by an ability to drive new ventures within the business

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

About the Team
The Product Design Simulation team is responsible for redefining how we design and engineer hardware. By combining advanced multiphysics simulation with machine learning, we accelerate development, optimize performance, and enable breakthrough products. Our work ensures that design decisions are informed by computational insight and validated against real-world performance.

About the Role
OpenAI is looking for a Simulation Engineer to join our Product Design Simulation team. As a Simulation Engineer, you will use your expertise in mechanics, CFD, and electromagneticsas well as ML-driven modeling approachesto help shape the next generation of hardware. Youll thrive at the intersection of simulation, machine learning, and real-world design, pushing the boundaries of whats possible through computational intelligence.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 4 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will:

• Build and run multiphysics models incorporating structural FEA, CFD, and electromagnetic simulations

• Apply machine learning techniques to accelerate workflows, perform surrogate modeling, automate design space exploration, and extract insights from simulation and test data

• Partner with design, test, and hardware teams to define multi-domain performance requirements and real-world load cases

• Validate models through testing and improve prediction accuracy through hybrid physicsML approaches

• Contribute to the development of scalable, ML-integrated simulation frameworks for faster and smarter decision-making

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Hold an MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field

• Have deep expertise in FEA and multiphysics workflows, especially in coupled mechanicalthermalelectromagnetic problems

• Bring hands-on experience applying ML techniques (e.g., regression models, neural networks, surrogate modeling) to simulation or engineering datasets

• Are proficient with tools such as Abaqus, ANSYS, COMSOL, JMAG, and ML libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch

• Possess strong programming/scripting skills (Python, MATLAB) for workflow automation and ML integration

• Have a solid understanding of materials, product design, and real-world loading conditions

• Communicate and collaborate effectively across engineering and data science teams

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAIs Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement .

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.

To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form . No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link .

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

• Perform advanced stress, strain, and fatigue analysis on mechanical components and systems using FEA software (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN).
• Develop and validate FEA models, including meshing, material property definition, and boundary condition application.
• Analyze simulation results, identify potential failure modes, and provide recommendations for design improvements.
• Interpret and communicate complex analysis results to design engineers and project stakeholders.
• Correlate FEA results with experimental test data when available.
• Develop and document analysis procedures and best practices.
• Stay current with advancements in FEA technology and methodologies.
• Collaborate with design engineers to integrate analysis requirements into the design process.
• Assist in the development of test plans for validating structural performance.
• Mentor junior engineers in stress analysis techniques.

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with a focus on solid mechanics.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in structural and stress analysis, with a strong emphasis on FEA.
• Proficiency in industry-standard FEA software packages.
• Solid understanding of continuum mechanics, material science, and failure theories.
• Experience with modal analysis, transient analysis, and thermal stress analysis.
• Familiarity with industry codes and standards (e.g., ASME, ASTM).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a remote team.

• Lead and mentor a team of stress analysis engineers, providing technical guidance and project oversight.
• Perform advanced stress, strain, and vibration analysis on mechanical components and assemblies using FEA software (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN, ABAQUS).
• Develop and validate analytical models, ensuring accuracy and correlation with experimental data.
• Interpret analysis results and provide design recommendations to mechanical design engineers to optimize performance and durability.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and testing teams to define and execute validation testing procedures.
• Develop and maintain analysis standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Research and implement new analysis techniques and technologies to enhance capabilities.
• Manage analysis project timelines, resource allocation, and deliverables.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and advancements in mechanical analysis and design.

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with a specialization in solid mechanics or computational mechanics.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in stress analysis and mechanical design, with at least 2-3 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.
• Expert proficiency in FEA software packages and pre/post-processors.
• Strong knowledge of material properties, failure theories, and fatigue analysis.
• Experience with dynamic analysis, modal analysis, and thermal-structural analysis.
• Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA) for model preparation.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python) for automation is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and manage projects effectively.

• Conducting detailed linear and non-linear static, dynamic, and fatigue analysis of aircraft structures and components using FEA software (e.g., NASTRAN, ANSYS).
• Interpreting analysis results and providing clear, actionable recommendations to design engineers for component optimization and modification.
• Developing and validating analytical models to accurately represent structural behavior under various load conditions, including thermal, vibration, and impact.
• Performing stress, strain, and deformation analysis to ensure components meet design specifications and regulatory requirements (e.g., FAA, EASA).
• Collaborating closely with design, manufacturing, and testing teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Supporting structural testing activities, including test planning, data acquisition, and correlation of analysis with test results.
• Identifying and resolving structural issues and anomalies that may arise during design, testing, or flight operations.
• Staying current with the latest advancements in stress analysis techniques, software tools, and aerospace materials.
• Mentoring junior engineers and contributing to the technical growth of the team.
• Preparing comprehensive analysis reports and presenting findings to management and cross-functional teams.
• Ensuring adherence to company quality standards and engineering best practices.
• Participating in design reviews and providing expert technical input.
• Assessing material properties and their impact on structural performance.
• Developing efficient and robust analytical methodologies.

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in mechanical or structural analysis, with a significant focus on the aerospace industry.
• Expert proficiency in FEA software such as NASTRAN, PATRAN, ANSYS, or ABAQUS.
• Thorough understanding of solid mechanics, material science, and fracture mechanics.
• Experience with fatigue and damage tolerance analysis.
• Knowledge of aerospace industry standards and regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for automation is a plus.
• Familiarity with composite materials analysis.