Mechanical Design Engineer - UAS

Combined Selection Group Ltd; Arizona; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Combined Selection Group Ltd in Scottsdale, AZ seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer to own airframe design for a small unmanned electric aircraft. You will develop lightweight, rigid CAD models and lead cross-disciplinary integration.

The role requires 5+ years aerospace design, deep SolidWorks expertise, and hands-on fabrication know-how. On-site, citizenship required, fast-paced, impact-focused environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of aerospace design and manufacturing experience, preferably with small unmanned electric aircraft or similar airframes.
• SolidWorks proficiency for complex lightweight component design, payload integration, and composite structures.
• Strong fundamentals in structural, thermal, and aerodynamic analysis; practical materials and fabrication knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead airframe component design in SolidWorks, evaluating weight, balance, materials, and trade studies.
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, MDO, and aerodynamic engineers to integrate cross-disciplinary requirements into clean, manufacturable CAD models.
• Define fabrication techniques, select composite/lightweight materials, and source vendor manufacturing.
• Support prototype builds and physical testing to close the loop between analytical models and real-world results.

Skills

SolidWorks

Aerospace design

Structural analysis

Thermal analysis

Aerodynamics

Materials & fabrication

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Mechanical Design Engineer

Location: Scottsdale, AZ. On-site (US Citizenship Required)

The Challenge

We are building a small, unmanned electric aircraft from the ground up, and we need a sharp Mechanical Desing Engineer to take ownership of the airframe design. We operate in a high-velocity environment that balances rapid innovation with practical, flight-ready reliability. Working alongside an elite team of subject matter experts, you will turn multi-disciplinary engineering concepts into lightweight, high-performance physical hardware.

What You Will Do

• Lead airframe component design in SolidWorks, managing full layout, weight and balance, material selection, and trade studies.
• Collaborate closely with propulsion, avionics, MDO, and aerodynamic engineers to integrate cross-disciplinary requirements directly into clean, manufacturable CAD models.
• Guide parts from CAD to reality by defining fabrication techniques, selecting composite/lightweight materials, and sourcing vendor manufacturing.
• Support prototype builds and physical test execution to close the loop between analytical design models and real-world results.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of dedicated aerospace design and manufacturing experience, if focused on small unmanned electric aircraft or similar airframes, even better.
• Deep mastery of SolidWorks for complex lightweight component design, payload integration, and composite structures.
• Strong engineering analysis fundamentals (structural, thermal, aerodynamic) paired with practical knowledge of materials and fabrication.
• Multi-disciplined problem solver with clear communication skills and an iterative, analysis-driven approach to design.
• Practical hands-on background (RC building/flying or workshop fabrication) that informs practical CAD decisions.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (or equivalent industry experience).
• US Citizenship required (On-site role).

Why Join Us

If you want to own the design of a novel aircraft platform from scratch rather than push paper on a minor subsystem, this is your opportunity. We offer a high-impact, collaborative environment where smart design turns into flying hardware fast.