Lead Structures Design Engineer

Swarm Aero Inc.; Oxnard, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in a high-growth defense tech

Competitive base salary

Medical, dental, vision, 401k

PTO and paid sick leave

Wellness stipend

Daily catered lunch

Parental leave

Impactful mission

World-class engineering team

Job summary

Swarm Aero Inc. is seeking a lead engineer to own the largest aircraft structures, including wing boxes, fuselage sections, and empennage.

You will define the architecture for large composite parts, manage joints and load paths, and lead other structures engineers toward first flight. This hands-on technical leadership role focuses on design and review of structure, balancing weight, cost, schedule, and producibility across major parts.

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.
• Define the structural architecture for large composite parts, laminate strategy and load paths.
• Lead and mentor a team of structures design engineers, setting model, drawing, and design review standards.
• Drive trades on part count, tooling approach, and assembly sequence with manufacturing and program leadership.
• Own design maturity through PDR, CDR, first article, structural test, and first flight.

Skills

Aerospace design

Composite materials

Leadership

Structures analysis

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering

Tools

Nastran

Abaqus

HyperMesh

FEA

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