The paper presents an approach for the development of a novel design for high performance struts as used for landing gears in aviation. In order to significantly reduce the weight and increase the load bearing capability of such mechanical highly stressed structures, the use of carbon fiber reinforced polymers in combination with metal provides a promising perspective. The objective here is to achieve a better utilization of the respective material advantages. However, multi-axial loads in connection with anisotropic material behavior lead to a correspondingly demanding task for the stress-appropriate design. In this context for the development of a suitable strut concept, engineering-relevant approaches for material selection, load-oriented functional separation in the structure and partial hybridization for improved load transfer are introduced. In a systematic and linked procedure based on virtual and physical methods, the composition of the tension loops based on shape optimization and mechanical tests for proof of partial hybridization are demonstrated. For verification, complex specimens were manufactured on a laboratory scale and successfully tested.