Lead Structures Design Engineer

Swarm Aero; Oxnard (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health benefits

401k

PTO

Wellness stipend

Office lunch

Parental leave

Career impact

Job summary

Swarm Aero is seeking a lead engineer to own the largest aircraft structures, including wing boxes and fuselage sections. You will set the design approach for large composite primary structures and guide a team of structures engineers through major development milestones.

The role is hands-on and technical, with responsibility for architecture trade-offs between weight, cost, schedule, and producibility, from concept to first flight.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering field.
• 8+ years designing aircraft structure with ownership of large composite primary structure.

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 problems unique to big parts: dimensional control, thermal growth, fixturing, and transport constraints.
• Work with stress teams and composites manufacturing to close margins and keep the build moving.
• Own design maturity through PDR, CDR, first article, structural test, and first flight.

Skills

Leadership of engineers

Composite design

FEA tools

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Nastran

Abaqus

HyperMesh

Job description

About this role

We are looking for a lead engineer to own the largest structures on the aircraft. This is the person responsible for major airframe sections: wing, fuselage, and empennage. You will set the design approach for large composite primary structure, make the calls on architecture and joints, and lead other structures engineers to first flight.

This is a hands‑on technical leadership role. You will spend most of your time designing and reviewing structure, not managing. You will also be the senior voice in trades between weight, cost, schedule, and producibility on parts that are measured in meters, not inches.

What you will do

• 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

What we look for

• 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

  Nice to have

  • 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

  ITAR requirement

  To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant 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 the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

  Swarm Aero is an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse backgrounds and experiences and make employment decisions without regard to race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability.

  What We Offer

  • Meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology company
  • Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
  • Medical, dental, vision, and 401k
  • PTO and paid sick leave
  • Monthly wellness stipend
  • Daily catered lunch (office)
  • Paid parental leave
  • Direct impact on a critical national security mission
  • A world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problems