Aircraft Structures Engineering Lead

Natilus•San Diego, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Natilus is building the next generation of aviation through the development of blended-wing-body aircraft, delivering a step-change in overall efficiency. Our growing family of aircraft is designed to make air travel more sustainable while fundamentally improving the economics of commercial flight and the operational effectiveness of defense logistics. By combining advanced aerodynamics with innovative design, Natilus aircraft achieve exceptional fuel efficiency, increased payload capacity, and seamless compatibility with existing airport infrastructure. With hundreds of aircraft valued in the billions of dollars already on order, we are redefining how aircraft are designed, built, and operated, representing a meaningful evolution in modern aviation Work Summary: Natilus is seeking a Aircraft Structures Engineering Lead to join our team in San Diego, CA. In this role, you will be responsible for the overall structural design strategy, trade studies, and execution. You will lead a team of engineers and take technical ownership of the overall airframe approach and schedule, from part design through to first flight. You will be the primary point of contact when interfacing with suppliers and manufacturing and help lead structural analysis and modeling efforts.

Requirements

Minimum of 10 years of experience as an airframe design engineer or in a closely related role
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
Strong foundational understanding of aircraft load paths and structural behavior
Experience designing bolted and bonded joints
Expert-level knowledge of composite structures, including detailed design and fabrication methods
Proficiency with NX, CATIA, , or SolidWorks
Experience with rapid prototype aircraft structures from conceptual and preliminary design through build
Experience with design-for-build manufacturing, determinate assembly, manufacturing planning, and tooling design
Experience performing initial part and joint sizing using hand calculations or FEA
Familiarity with FAA Part 23 and 25 requirements

Nice To Haves

Kickoff through production program experience
Rapid prototype program experience
Hands-on build experience
Structural testing experience

Responsibilities

Apply technical knowledge to the aircraft structural design from concept through first flight
Provide technical leadership and oversight for the Kona airframe design team
Assign work, set priorities, and mentor engineers to ensure timely, high-quality execution
Communicate and collaborate closely with the executive team including CEO and Head of Engineering
Manage engineering deliverables, identify issues, and drive corrective actions as needed
Lead and contribute to aircraft structural design