Stress & Dynamics Engineer

Who we are

Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.

As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.

We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.

The role

As a Stress and Dynamics Engineer at Helsing, you will own the structural integrity of our drone systems, from full vehicle assemblies down to critical components. Working at the intersection of advanced simulation and physical testing, you will define loads, build and validate finite element models, and deliver structural assessments that directly inform design decisions. Your work underpins the airworthiness and performance of autonomous systems operating in demanding environments. You will collaborate closely with mechanical design, systems, and test teams, translating complex physical behaviour into clear engineering judgements that accelerate development and reduce technical risk.

The day-to-day

• Own the end-to-end structural simulation of complex drone products, major subassemblies, and critical components, delivering assessments that directly gate design decisions

• Define and derive loads, boundary conditions, and material properties, ensuring simulation inputs are physically grounded and fully traceable to system requirements

• Perform static and dynamic structural assessments, including modal analyses and model correlation tasks, to validate structural integrity across the full flight envelope

• Plan and execute structural tests for model validation and technology derisking, translating test data into actionable design guidance

• Produce comprehensive design reports and sensitivity studies that identify optimal structural solutions, in line with company quality standards and engineering guidelines

You should apply if you

• Have built, validated, and correlated finite element models of complex aerospace or equivalently demanding structures using tools such as Simcenter or SolidWorks Simulation

• Can analytically assess standard structural components (bolts, bearings, fittings) and apply relevant engineering standards with confidence and rigour

• Have planned and executed structural test campaigns and can close the loop between test data and simulation through systematic model correlation

• Are proficient in calculation environments such as MATLAB/Simulink and can apply model order reduction methods to simplify high-fidelity structural systems

• Communicate technical findings clearly in written reports and cross-functional discussions, in English, to both engineering and non-engineering audiences

• Act decisively with minimal guidance, own outcomes end-to-end and initiate solutions without waiting for direction

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.

Nice to Have

• Experience with drone or UAV structural design, including familiarity with the specific load cases and certification considerations of unmanned systems

• Proficiency in CAD tools for structural simplification and model preparation as part of an integrated mechanical design workflow

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns

• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world

• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward

• In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts

• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• Competitive salary and VSOP options

• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation

• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance

• Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)

• Social: regularly company events and monthly social allowances

• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers.

• Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work

These are the core benefits across all locations, there may be additional benefits in certain locations.

Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.