Mechanical & Structural Engineer

Destinus; Katwijk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus in the Netherlands seeks a senior mechanical engineer to own the mechanical design from CAD to validated hardware for flight-grade systems. You will manage packaging, mass, and CG, and coordinate with subsystem specialists.

You will perform structural and environmental testing, analyze results, and feed findings back into the design. A hands-on, fast-paced team environment values practical problem solving and rigorous engineering judgment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience designing flight hardware such as missiles, spacecraft, aircraft, or comparable systems.
• Strong ability to perform hand calculations and use FEA for structural integrity checks.
• Experience planning and running structural, vibration, or environmental tests and interpreting results.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical design, producing and maintaining CAD for structure and vehicle layout; manage Packaging, mass, and CG constraints.
• Perform structural and stiffness analysis using hand calculations and FEA for flight loads, storage, handling, and environmental conditions.
• Own mechanical and thermal integration at vehicle level; coordinate interfaces with subsystem specialists.
• Plan and execute structural, vibration, and environmental test campaigns, including test articles, fixtures, procedures, and results.
• Analyze test data, correlate results against models and requirements, feed findings back into the design.
• Manage mechanical suppliers, drawings, tolerances, manufacturing requirements, and externally produced components.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical design

Structural analysis

Mass/CG optimization

Test planning & execution

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor/Master/PhD in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

FEA software

Job description

Imagine this, you own the mechanical backbone of an exo-atmospheric interceptor, from its structure and internal layout to the way it survives the loads and environment of flight.

Bliksem Exo is a four-nation European consortium developing an anti-ballistic missile system at operational pace. Destinus is the programme prime and responsible for the exo-atmospheric interceptor, engineered for affordability and production at scale.

In this role, you will take the vehicle from CAD to real, testable hardware. You will own the mechanical design, structural analysis, packaging, and test campaign, using real test data to validate assumptions and continuously improve the vehicle baseline. This is a hands‑on position within a small, specialised team where you will design, build or procure, test, and understand the results.

At Destinus, we are revolutionising the defence industry with cutting‑edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defence operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost‑effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defence organisations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission‑critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defence with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.

What You’ll Do

• Own the mechanical design, producing and maintaining CAD for the structure and vehicle layout while managing subsystem packaging, mass, and centre‑of‑gravity constraints
• Perform structural and stiffness analysis using hand calculations and FEA for flight loads, storage, handling, and environmental conditions
• Own mechanical and thermal integration at vehicle level, coordinating interfaces with the specialists responsible for individual subsystems
• Plan and execute structural, vibration, and environmental test campaigns, including test articles, fixtures, procedures, and results
• Analyse test data, correlate results against structural models and requirements, and feed findings directly back into the design
• Manage mechanical suppliers, drawings, tolerances, manufacturing requirements, and externally produced components

Who You Are

• You are a hands‑on engineer who wants ownership from CAD through hardware and testing
• You are comfortable making engineering decisions when mass, space, performance, and schedule are all constrained
• You use analysis to guide the design and testing to prove it
• You thrive in a small, highly technical team where speed, ownership, and sound engineering judgement matter
• BSc, MSc, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical design of flight hardware such as missiles, spacecraft, aircraft, or comparable high‑performance systems
• Strong hands‑on CAD experience with SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar tools
• Strong structural analysis capability, including hand calculations and FEA
• Practical experience planning and running structural, vibration, or environmental tests and interpreting the resulting data
• Experience designing highly constrained systems around mass, packaging, structural, and centre‑of‑gravity requirements