Lead Structures Design Engineer

Swarm Aero•2889 W. 5th ST, CA

16h•$180,000 - $300,000•Onsite

About The Position

Swarm Aero is redefining air power by building the largest swarming UAV and the most versatile swarming aircraft network globally. The company is rapidly progressing towards launching its first aircraft specifically designed for swarming, along with the Command & Control software to manage swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets. This technology empowers human operators to achieve superhuman results. The team comprises individuals with a track record of creating and exiting multiple startups, negotiating multi-billion dollar defense deals, and designing and building over 30 novel aircraft, bringing extensive aerospace experience from companies like Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic. About this role: We are seeking a lead engineer to take ownership of the largest structures on the aircraft, specifically responsible for major airframe sections including the wing, fuselage, and empennage. This role involves defining the design approach for large composite primary structures, making critical decisions on architecture and joints, and leading other structures engineers towards the goal of first flight. This is a hands-on technical leadership position where the majority of time will be dedicated to designing and reviewing structures, rather than management. The individual will also serve as the senior voice in trade-off discussions concerning weight, cost, schedule, and producibility for components measured in meters.

Requirements

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: laminate design, large tool design implications, cure behavior, bonded and bolted joints
Experience leading engineers through a full development cycle, from concept through structural test or flight
Proficiency in CAD (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) and strong GD&T, including datum strategies for large assemblies
Hands-on mindset. You have stood next to your parts on the shop floor and changed the design because of what you saw
Bias toward speed. You make decisions with incomplete data and iterate
Ability to work onsite in Oxnard, CA
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. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Own the design of major airframe structure: wing box, fuselage sections, empennage, and large bonded assemblies
Define the structural architecture for large composite parts, including laminate strategy, core usage, joint philosophy, and load paths
Lead and mentor a team of structures design engineers, setting standards for models, drawings, and design reviews
Drive trades on part count, tooling approach, and assembly sequence with manufacturing and program leadership
Solve the problems unique to big parts: dimensional control over large spans, thermal growth in cure, handling and fixturing, and transport constraints
Work daily with stress, M&P, and composites manufacturing to close margins and keep the build moving
Own design maturity through PDR, CDR, first article, structural test, and first flight