Structural Design and Analysis
Structural Engineering Analysis Solutions and Software
Assisting you with all your structural analysis needs.
Structural Design and Analysis is a team of aerospace stress engineers that help our customers design lightweight and load efficient structures. We utilize software from Siemens PLM and Collier Research Corporation for our analysis. Our experience using software such as Femap, NX Nastran, Fibersim, and Hypersizer aids us in providing practical training and support to our fellow structural engineers as a Value Added Reseller.
We are located in Sterling, VA, near the Dulles Airport and Washington D.C.
Feel free to contact us at inquiries@structures.aero or 724-382-5290
Save time and money with structures that are optimized for weight, strength, and materials.
Work with a company that specializes in spacecraft, aircraft, and composites.
Receive training and support from engineers that use the software for their own analysis work.
Analysis Solutions
We help design lightweight and load efficient structures using state of the art materials and analysis methods.
We have worked with Blue Origin, Boom Supersonic, Piper, The Spaceship Company, Aurora Flight Sciences, NASA, Lockheed Martin, and many more. If you would like to discuss how we might work together, please send us an email.
We specialize in finite element analysis and composite analysis and design.
Analysis Software
We utilize software from Siemens PLM and Collier Research Corporation for our analysis. We partnered with these organizations to provide you with the same advanced engineering products.
Our experience using the software provides us with extensive knowledge to provide high level support to our customers.
Our Employees
At SDA we have a number of engineers with exceptional skill and education, and a diverse range of work experience. All coming from a variety of engineering backgrounds, our employees have had the privilege to work on some of the most advanced and renowned projects in the industry. All of our employees utilize our available software products on a daily basis, giving them the expertise to provide the best support possible to our customers.
Jim Jeans
Lead Stress Engineer & President
Structural Design and Analysis, Inc. (SDA) was founded in 1997 by James Jeans. Mr. Jeans began his career analyzing major aircraft structural modifications. He soon became a Lead Stress Engineer for Boeing on the B-2 Stealth Bomber, followed by a Lead Stress Engineering role for Lockheed on the F-22 Raptor.
After Lockheed, Mr. Jeans became the only structural analyst at a small Unmanned Aircraft company, helping to design a number of high performance, lightweight aircraft structures. Mr. Jeans formed SDA to offer his considerable expertise in the design and analysis of Primary Aircraft Structures to a larger audience.
Tanya Mckee
Executive Assistant
Tanya McKee joined SDA in 2016 as an Executive Assistant. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Chris Jeans
Marketing Specialist
Chris joined the SDA team in June 2019 as a Marketing Specialist. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in Political Science.
Blake Jeans
Vice President, Analysis
Blake Jeans joined SDA as a full time Aerospace Stress Analyst in 2014. He holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech.
He has thirteen years of experience in the design and analysis fields, specializing in analysis of lightweight composite and metallic structures. His experience includes work on the Human Landing System with Blue Origin’s National Team, the launch fairing on Northrop Grumman’s OmegA heavy-lift launch vehicle, the XV-27A LightningStrike for Aurora Flight Sciences, NASA’s Orion Crew Module with Lockheed Martin, and a variety of small, unmanned vehicles.
He also has extensive experience in robotics and actuator design, including the design of the HDT Robotics Adroit Manipulator Arm and work on the DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics program. Additionally, he has a detailed interest in manufacturing and CNC machining and is currently designing a custom gantry router for composite mold-making applications.
Andrew Jabola
Senior Stress Engineer
Andrew Jabola's career has focused on finite element analysis and composite development using FEMAP, NX CAD/CAE, and Fibersim. Andrew has supported a number customers and a variety of engineering projects for a number of years using these products.
Andrew has a total of 6 years of experience in the mechanical engineering field. Andrew also holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Walla Walla University.
Andrew Nelson
Stress Engineer
Andrew Nelson joined SDA as a stress analyst in the summer of 2015 and has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech.
He has worked on multiple projects for SDA including model creation for Hagler Systems and supporting the Orion Crew Module stress groups with modeling and analysis of primary and secondary structure.
Ryan Tatman
Stress Engineer
Ryan Tatman joined SDA as a full time Aerospace Stress Analyst in 2015. He holds a B.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech, where he studied aircraft structures and vehicle vibrations.
He has worked a variety of projects for SDA ranging from sizing UAV primary structure to supporting the Forward Bay and Launch Abort System stress groups on the Orion Crew Module.
Russ Hilley
Senior Stress Engineer
Russ Hilley has more than twenty years of experience in mechanical design and engineering. He has a diverse background ranging from avionics systems to mechanical packaging.
He is head of support at SDA and is a certified trainer for Femap with NX Nastran.
Alex Skavdahl
Stress Engineer
Alex Skavdahl joined SDA as a full time Aerospace Stress Analyst in 2015. He holds an Engineering Science & Mechanics degree and an Aerospace and Ocean Engineering degree from Virginia Tech.
He has supported a variety of projects for SDA ranging from sizing UAV primary structure to performing advanced non-linear runs for a leading general aviation manufacturer.
David Cross, ph.D
Senior Stress Engineer
Dr. David Cross joined SDA as a full time Aerospace Structures Engineer in June 2014. He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech, where he studied finite element analysis, aerospace structures, and structural optimization.
Nick Mehlig
Stress Engineer
Nick Mehlig joined SDA as a stress analyst in 2016. He holds a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
During his time at SDA, Nick has worked on the Fokker D.VII Biplane, created breakout models in Femap for the Orion Crew Module, and used NX Nastran and HyperSizer to size composite aircraft wing.
Skyler Teel
Stress Engineer
Skyler Teel joined SDA as an Aerospace Stress Engineer in October 2018. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, with emphasis on applied numerical methods and space systems.
Glenn Andrew
Stress Engineer
Glenn Andrew joined SDA as a Stress Engineer in July 2019. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. He spent 3 years on the VT Formula SAE student-built racecar team and led the development of the vehicle aerodynamics during his senior year. He now supports the DreamChaser program, working on the cabin secondary structures.
Alex Carra
Senior Stress Engineer
Alex Carra graduated from Virginia Tech in 2013 with a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering. After which, he joined the SDA team, becoming an expert in FEMAP and other software.
He supports NASA on the Wide Field Infrared Space Telescope.
Tyler Chetto
Associate Stress Engineer
Tyler Chetto joined SDA as an Associate Stress Engineer in August 2020. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in astronautics.
Tim Nuhfer
Vice President, Design
Tim took lead of the Design Group at SDA in 2019, bringing his experience in the design, manufacture, integration, and testing of aircraft primary and secondary structures from his involvement in various stages of several aircraft programs including Aurora’s Orion UAS, XV-27A LightningStrike, Boeing’s Solar Eagle, Phantom Eye, F-22 Raptor, E-8C Joint-STARS, RQ-4A Global Hawk, E-3 AWACS, X-47B UCAS, CH-53K Sea Stallion, S-97 Raider, the Gulfstream G400 and G500, and a Formula 1 Reno Racer. His experience includes aircraft lofting and performance analysis, preliminary and detailed design of structures, sub-system integration and test, and support of deployment and flight test activities. He has hands on experience working side by side with technicians building and integrating large aircraft like the Orion UAS and small aircraft like the Formula 1 racer.
Josh Mohammed
Design Engineer
Josh Mohammed joined SDA in October 2020 as a Design Engineer. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2018 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and holds an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license.
Using SolidWorks, CATIA, and NX, he has supported various air and space vehicles’ structural development from conceptual design through manufacturing. Josh also helps maintain the company’s aircraft fleet.
Keely Chetto
Associate Design Engineer
Keely Chetto joined SDA as a full time Associate Design Engineer in October 2020. She graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering with a focus in astronautics.
Matt Svoboda
Design Engineer
Matt Svoboda joined SDA as a Design Engineer in December 2020. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering.
He has used SolidWorks, CATIA, and NX, to support the structural design and manufacturing on various air and space vehicles from conceptual design through manufacturing.
Dylan Smith
Design Engineer
Dylan Smith joined SDA in March 2020 as a design engineer and has been involved on a variety of programs, primarily the detailed design of an all-composite general aviation aircraft. He has 5 years of experience in the aerospace industry and has worked on manned and unmanned vehicle programs from conceptual development through to manufacturing. He holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University.