Senior Mechanical Engineer specializing in reverse-engineering underground and deeply buried hardened facilities into high-fidelity 3D CAD models that drive blast-effects, weapon penetration, and hazard prediction analysis for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
What you'll do
- Lead mechanical reconstruction and volumetric modeling of complex underground facilities, mapping internal geometries, structural reinforcements, ventilation networks, and geological interfaces using advanced geospatial imaging
- Develop high-fidelity 3D CAD assemblies as baseline geometries for Hydrocode, FEA, and CFD solvers used in blast-effects and weapon penetration modeling
- Process and synthesize LiDAR point clouds, structure-from-motion photogrammetry, and SAR data to construct accurate subterranean digital twins
- Ensure 3D characterization datasets seamlessly integrate with DoD hazard prediction toolsets (HPAC and VLSTRACK) by providing accurate structural volume and facility layout data
- Analyze mechanical and geomechanical properties of rock mass, concrete linings, and hardened structures to assess vulnerabilities against kinetic and non-kinetic defeat concepts
- Collaborate with Kirtland Test & Evaluation teams to physically validate 3D model accuracy against post-detonation structural damage and collapse data
- Mentor junior and mid-level engineers in advanced geometric modeling and structural vulnerability workflows
- Present technical 3D facility models, vulnerability assessments, and reverse-engineering methodologies to DTRA leadership, combatant commands, and intelligence community stakeholders
Mission
This role directly supports the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) at Kirtland Air Force Base. The mission focuses on characterizing hostile and adversarial Underground Facilities (UGFs) and hardened deeply buried targets (HDBTs) to enable Joint Force protection through advanced threat modeling and vulnerability assessment.
Required skills
- 3D CAD modeling (SolidWorks, Creo, Autodesk)
- Point cloud processing (CloudCompare, Cyclone)
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Underground facility reverse engineering and structural characterization
- LiDAR and photogrammetry data fusion
- Python or MATLAB scripting
- HPAC and VLSTRACK hazard prediction tools
- Geomechanical and structural material analysis
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) baseline geometry development