Manufacturing Engineer

Swarm Aero•Oxnard, CA

20d•$100,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Swarm Aero is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to help develop and scale manufacturing processes for its autonomous aircraft. The role works with engineers, designers, and technicians to make aircraft designs manufacturable, build prototypes, improve assembly processes, and develop tooling and work instructions. The position offers early ownership and practical, hands-on work taking engineering concepts from design through flight-ready aircraft in a fast-paced startup environment. The engineer will support composite and metallic component manufacturing, improve processes and production efficiency, and help transition new aircraft designs into repeatable manufacturing. The role also involves collaboration across engineering, fabrication, and production teams to improve quality, throughput, and build efficiency.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent practical experience may also be considered.
Experience through internships, academic projects, personal builds, or early-career work involving manufacturing, mechanical design, fabrication, or product development.
Foundational understanding of manufacturing processes, mechanical assemblies, and engineering drawings.
Experience using CAD software such as Siemens NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or a similar tool through coursework, projects, or professional experience.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work through unfamiliar technical challenges.
Effective communication and collaboration across technical disciplines.
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 required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, to conform to U.S. Government export regulations.

Nice To Haves

Enjoys building, taking apart, and improving things.
Prefers testing ideas with real hardware.
Takes initiative, asks questions, and learns quickly from feedback.
Comfortable with ambiguity and adapting when designs or processes do not work as expected.
Cares about craftsmanship, quality, and attention to detail.
Interested in working on a small team where contributions are visible and have direct impact.

Responsibilities

Work with design engineers and technicians to improve the manufacturability of aircraft components and assemblies.
Support the development, testing, and refinement of manufacturing processes for composite and metallic components.
Design, build, and improve tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids.
Create and maintain manufacturing documentation, including work instructions, process flows, and assembly procedures.
Identify production bottlenecks, troubleshoot manufacturing issues, and implement practical improvements.
Support prototype builds and help transition new aircraft designs into repeatable manufacturing processes.
Collaborate across engineering, fabrication, and production teams to improve quality, throughput, and build efficiency.
Work hands-on with hardware, test new ideas, and help turn engineering concepts into flight-ready aircraft.