Senior Mechanical Engineer - UAV Systems & Structures

Socket.dev; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits and 401(k)

Equity grants

Job summary

Firestorm in San Diego, CA is seeking a Mechanical Design & Analysis Engineer to lead the design, structural analysis, and build efforts for critical UAV flight structures and mechanisms. You will collaborate cross-functionally to ensure performance, manufacturability, and cost targets are met throughout development, prototyping, testing, and production.

The role requires a strong foundation in mechanical design and structural analysis, hands-on CAD with SolidWorks, GD&T, and experience in both

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of mechanical design experience, directly with aircraft design.
• Minimum 1 year hands-on structural analysis experience.
• Strong fundamentals in structures, fluids, thermal management, and mechanisms.
• Hands-on design engineering with DFM principles and CAD integration.
• Experience with SolidWorks, GD&T, and assemblies for aircraft systems.

Responsibilities

• Support mechanical design and structural analysis for UAV subsystems across lifecycle.
• Develop manufacturable designs optimized for flight performance under varying conditions.
• Analyze initial aerostructures against mass and stiffness targets.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, drawings, and manufacturing docs using SolidWorks.
• Validate designs via hand calculations, FEA, and physical testing.
• Collaborate with electrical, flight-test, and manufacturing teams for integration.
• Support design reviews and contribute to robust engineering practices.
• Assist rapid prototyping and iteration using hands-on shop work.
• Troubleshoot issues and implement corrective actions.
• Contribute to CAD documentation control and build protocols.
• Support DFM with internal and external manufacturing partners.

Skills

Mechanical design

Structural analysis

DFM

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

FEA

Job description

Firestorm in San Diego, CA is seeking a Mechanical Design & Analysis Engineer to lead the design, structural analysis, and build efforts for critical UAV flight structures and mechanisms. You will collaborate cross-functionally to ensure performance, manufacturability, and cost targets are met throughout development, prototyping, testing, and production.

The role requires a strong foundation in mechanical design and structural analysis, hands-on CAD with SolidWorks, GD&T, and experience in both