Senior Composite Design Engineer

ACE Partners; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

ACE Partners is seeking two senior engineers to own composite structures from concept through production for space, defense and high-performance programs. You will lead design, laminate schedules, and work with stress engineering to optimize strength and damage tolerance.

The role requires hands-on production experience, strong laminate theory knowledge, and a degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering (MSc preferred). Relocation considered for exceptional candidates.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in designing aerospace/automotive composites.
• Hands-on experience taking parts into production, not just design or R&D.
• Solid grasp of laminate theory and ply orientation.
• BSc in Aerospace, Mechanical or Materials Engineering; MSc preferred.
• Experience with Fibersim or CATIA CPD is a plus; motorsport or performance-auto composites background is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of composite structures from concept to release packages.
• Author laminate schedules, ply books and stack-ups.
• Collaborate with stress engineering on strength, fatigue and damage tolerance.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability and support FAI and production ramp.
• Shape material and process selection (autoclave, OOA, RTM).

Skills

Composite design

Production readiness

Laminate theory

Mechanical fundamentals

Education

BSc in Aerospace/Mechanical/Materials

MSc preferred

Tools

CATIA

NX

SolidWorks

Fibersim

Job description

Santa Ana, CA | Full-time, on-site

$150K–$175K base + up to 10% bonus

You'd be joining a fast-growing aerospace & defense composites manufacturer that is hiring two senior engineers. You'd own composite structures from concept through production for space, defense and high-performance programs, working right beside the shop floor that builds them.

What you'll do:

• Lead the design of composite structures, from 3D models through to release packages (CATIA, NX or SolidWorks)
• Author laminate schedules, ply books and stack-ups
• Work with stress engineering on strength, fatigue and damage tolerance
• Drive design-for-manufacturability and support first article inspections (FAI) and the production ramp
• Shape material and process selection: autoclave, out-of-autoclave (OOA) and RTM

What you need:

• Strong experience of composite structural design, with an aerospace/automotive background
• Hands-on experience taking parts into production, not just design or R&D
• Strong grasp of laminate theory and ply orientation
• BSc in Aerospace, Mechanical or Materials Engineering (MSc preferred)
• Experience with Fibersim or CATIA CPD (Composites Part Design) is a plus, as is a background in motorsport or performance-auto composites

Why it's worth a look: real ownership of your designs from concept to production, rather than being one engineer among hundreds at a prime contractor. Relocation is considered for exceptional candidates.