What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Stress Engineer - Advanced Composites position at Approach Venture?
Lead Stress Engineer - Build and Scale Structural Analysis for Advanced Composite Systems
Hawthorne, CA | On-site
Opportunity Summary
Join a well-funded, early-stage advanced manufacturing company developing next-generation composite materials and production methods. The team is focused on enabling high-performance parts to be produced at significantly higher speeds and lower costs than traditional approaches, unlocking new capabilities across aerospace, defense, and energy systems. As the first dedicated Stress Engineer, you will establish and own the structural analysis function from the ground up. This role sits at the intersection of simulation, design, testing, and manufacturing. You will define methodologies, build modeling capabilities, and directly influence how novel composite materials are applied to demanding, real-world systems. Your work will shape both product performance and long-term technical strategy.
About Us
We are a venture-backed, early-stage engineering team building scalable manufacturing solutions for advanced composite materials. With strong financial backing and a focus on rapid iteration, we are developing new ways to design, validate, and produce high-performance components for critical applications. The team is small, highly technical, and focused on building foundational capabilities that will scale with the business.
Job Duties
$165,000 – $215,000
Hawthorne, CA | On-site
Opportunity Summary
Join a well-funded, early-stage advanced manufacturing company developing next-generation composite materials and production methods. The team is focused on enabling high-performance parts to be produced at significantly higher speeds and lower costs than traditional approaches, unlocking new capabilities across aerospace, defense, and energy systems. As the first dedicated Stress Engineer, you will establish and own the structural analysis function from the ground up. This role sits at the intersection of simulation, design, testing, and manufacturing. You will define methodologies, build modeling capabilities, and directly influence how novel composite materials are applied to demanding, real-world systems. Your work will shape both product performance and long-term technical strategy.
About Us
We are a venture-backed, early-stage engineering team building scalable manufacturing solutions for advanced composite materials. With strong financial backing and a focus on rapid iteration, we are developing new ways to design, validate, and produce high-performance components for critical applications. The team is small, highly technical, and focused on building foundational capabilities that will scale with the business.
Job Duties
- Own and develop structural analysis capabilities for composite materials and components
- Build, validate, and refine finite element models for novel material systems
- Guide design decisions through simulation insights, including geometry optimization and material selection
- Design and implement mechanical testing strategies across coupons, subcomponents, and full systems
- Oversee and support execution of structural testing and validation efforts
- Perform failure analysis and root cause investigations to improve performance and reliability
- Collaborate cross-functionally with design, manufacturing, and test teams to align analysis with real-world constraints
- Contribute to product development, requirements definition, and technical decision-making
- Support customer-facing technical discussions and contribute to broader engineering strategy
- Help establish scalable processes, tools, and best practices for simulation and validation
- U.S. Person status required due to regulatory considerations
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
- 5 years of experience in structural analysis of composite materials
- Proven experience developing and refining FEA models for complex or novel materials
- Strong understanding of composite behavior, failure modes, and structural optimization
- Experience selecting, implementing, and validating simulation tools and workflows
- Ability to design and interpret mechanical test programs
- Hands-on experience with failure analysis and root cause investigation
- Proficiency in CAD tools, including creation of parts, assemblies, and drawings with GD&T
- Strong problem-solving ability and willingness to operate in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Comfortable working across teams and communicating technical concepts clearly
- Experience modeling both chopped fiber and continuous fiber composite systems
- Familiarity with Abaqus or similar advanced simulation tools
- Experience with thermal and multiphysics simulations
- Background in composite manufacturing processes
- Experience in aerospace or defense environments
- Exposure to high-load or extreme environment applications
- Experience presenting technical work or business cases to leadership
- Prior experience in small teams or early-stage companies
- Opportunity to build and lead a critical engineering function from the ground up
- High ownership and direct impact on product and company trajectory
- Exposure to complex, real-world engineering challenges
- Fast-paced environment with strong opportunities for growth and advancement
- Equity participation and long-term upside
$165,000 – $215,000
Salary : $165,000 - $215,000