Lead Airframe Design Engineer (CATIA / 3DEXPERIENCE)

Total Aviation Staffing, LLC; Firebaugh (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Total Aviation Staffing, LLC is seeking a hands-on Lead Airframe Mechanical Designer to own aircraft geometry, structural arrangement and design-package quality at Eagle Field Airport in Firebaugh, CA. The role blends leadership with direct CATIA work for a growing hybrid-electric aviation startup.

You will mentor an Airframe Design Engineer, coordinate propulsion, battery, and landing/road-system interfaces, and ensure manufacturable lightweight designs. Relocation welcome.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or equivalent demonstrated aircraft mechanical-design expertise.
• Typically 8+ years of hands-on aircraft mechanical/airframe design.
• Minimum 3 years with Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA.
• Leadership and mentoring; GD&T, tolerance analysis and manufacturable lightweight design.
• U.S. work authorization without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept and detailed airframe design trades.
• Create and review 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA parts, surfaces, assemblies and drawings.
• Direct and mentor the Airframe Design Engineer.
• Integrate Loads, Stress and Materials findings into design changes.
• Coordinate propulsion, battery, folding and landing/road-system installation interfaces.
• Support prototype builds and resolve fit, tolerance and manufacturability issues.
• Deliver controlled releases with design rationale and improve design-review checks.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

Lightweight design

Education

Bachelor’s in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

3DEXPERIENCE CATIA

Job description

Pay: Competitive pay.

Location: Eagle Field Airport, Firebaugh, CA. Bay Area / Palo Alto candidates preferred; relocation candidates welcome.

Schedule: Full-time. On-site or hybrid; hands‑on development and integration work with coordinated visits to Eagle Field.

About the opportunity

Our client is a growing aviation startup building a hybrid-electric drive-and-fly vehicle, with development and testing at Eagle Field Airport. They need a hands‑on lead for airframe mechanical design who will own aircraft geometry, structural arrangement, design decisions and design-package quality.

You’ll report under the CTO and direct and mentor an Airframe Design Engineer while staying hands‑on in CATIA. Hiring is targeted ASAP, with a goal of year-end 2026.

What you’ll do

• Lead concept and detailed airframe design trades.
• Create and review 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA parts, surfaces, assemblies and drawings.
• Direct and mentor the Airframe Design Engineer.
• Integrate Loads, Stress and Materials findings into design changes.
• Coordinate propulsion, battery, folding and landing/road-system installation interfaces.
• Support prototype builds and resolve fit, tolerance and manufacturability issues.
• Deliver controlled releases with design rationale and improve design-review checks.

What you need

• Bachelor’s in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or equivalent demonstrated aircraft mechanical-design expertise.
• Typically 8+ years of hands‑on aircraft mechanical/airframe design.
• Minimum 3 years with Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA.
• Leadership and mentoring; GD&T, tolerance analysis and manufacturable lightweight design.
• U.S. work authorization without visa sponsorship.

Nice to have

• Composite and metallic structures; folding/convertible aircraft.
• Composite ply tools, ENOVIA and cross-disciplinary coordination.
• Practical use of AI tools or automation, with examples of your own contribution.

Competitive pay. Further compensation details will be shared during the process.