Senior Lead, Large Aircraft Structures & Composites

Swarm Aero; Oxnard (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Competitive base salary

Medical, dental, vision

PTO and sick leave

Wellness stipend

Daily catered lunch

Parental leave

Impactful national security mission

World-class engineering team

Job summary

Swarm Aero is seeking a Lead Structures Engineer to own the largest airframe sections, including wing boxes, fuselage, and empennage. You will define architecture for large composite parts, set joints and load paths, and lead other structures engineers to first flight.

The role is hands-on and design-focused, requiring close collaboration with manufacturing and program leadership to balance weight, cost, and producibility while delivering milestones for a high-velocity defense-oriented program.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering field.
• 8+ years designing aircraft structure with ownership of large composite primary structure such as wings or empennage.
• Deep knowledge of composite design and manufacturing at scale, including laminate design and bonded joints.
• Experience leading engineers through full development cycle from concept to flight.
• Proficiency in CAD and GD&T with high standards for large assemblies.
• Hands-on mindset with shop-floor engagement and data-driven decision making.

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 on large parts: dimensional control, thermal growth, fixturing, and transport constraints.
• Collaborate 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.

Skills

Aircraft structural design

Composite structures

CAD

Leadership

GD&T

DFM/DFMA

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical/Aerospace engineering

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

Nastran

Abaqus

Job description

Swarm Aero is seeking a Lead Structures Engineer to own the largest airframe sections, including wing boxes, fuselage, and empennage. You will define architecture for large composite parts, set joints and load paths, and lead other structures engineers to first flight.

The role is hands-on and design-focused, requiring close collaboration with manufacturing and program leadership to balance weight, cost, and producibility while delivering milestones for a high-velocity defense-oriented program.