Lead Structures Design Engineer

The role

You will own the design of major airframe structures including the wing, fuselage, and empennage for a Group 5 autonomous aircraft. You will set the design approach for large composite primary structures and lead other structures engineers to first flight.

What you will do

• Own the design of major airframe structure including wing box, fuselage sections, empennage, and large bonded assemblies
• Own and mature the structural architecture for large composite parts
• Lead and mentor a team of structures design engineers
• Drive trades on part count, tooling approach, and assembly sequence
• Solve problems unique to big parts such as dimensional control, thermal growth, handling, and transport constraints
• Work daily with stress, M&P, and composites manufacturing
• Own design maturity through PDR, CDR, first article, structural test, and first flight

Required qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering field
• 8+ years designing aircraft structure, with direct ownership of large composite primary structure such as wings, wing boxes, fuselage barrels or panels, or empennage
• Deep knowledge of composite design and manufacturing at scale
• Experience leading engineers through a full development cycle, from concept through structural test or flight
• Proficiency in CAD (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks)
• Strong GD&T, including datum strategies for large assemblies
• Hands-on mindset
• Bias toward speed
• Ability to work onsite in Oxnard, CA

Nice to have

• Experience on a clean-sheet aircraft development program
• Familiarity with prepreg, infusion, or out-of-autoclave processes for large parts
• Experience with FEA tools (Nastran, Abaqus, HyperMesh) or close partnership with stress teams
• Experience taking large structure through static and fatigue test
• Startup or small-team experience where you owned major program scope

Benefits

• Meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology company
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Medical, dental, vision, and 401k
• PTO and paid sick leave
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Daily catered lunch (office)
• Paid parental leave

Before you apply

• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Depart

About the company

Swarm Aero is building the largest swarming UAV and the most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The team has created and exited multiple startups and has aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic.