UAV Mechanical Engineer

Swift Engineering, Inc; San Clemente (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance - 100% covered for Employees

Dental Insurance - 100% covered for Employees

Life Insurance - 100% covered by company

401k with company match

Generous holiday calendar

16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave

Family Planning & Parenting Support

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in San Clemente is seeking an experienced UAV Mechanical Engineer to design and develop structures for unmanned aerial vehicle platforms. The ideal candidate will have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, at least 5 years of related experience, and expertise in SolidWorks. This role focuses on creating mechanical designs, collaborating with engineering teams, and ensuring manufacturability. Competitive salary range is $130,000 to $150,000 with generous benefits and a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of UAV-related experience or aerospace experience.
• Strong experience designing mechanisms and structural components.
• Familiarity with composite materials and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical structures and mechanisms for UAV platforms.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models and drawings using SolidWorks.
• Collaborate with various engineering teams.

Skills

Hands-on design experience

Understanding of composite structures

Proficiency in SolidWorks

Familiarity with 3-D printing techniques

Ability to work collaboratively

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

We are seeking an experienced UAV Mechanical Engineer to support the design, development, and integration of unmanned aerial vehicle structures and mechanisms. This role focuses on mechanical design, structural components, and manufacturable solutions for advanced UAV platforms.

The ideal candidate has strong hands‑on design experience, a solid understanding of composite structures, and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Salary: $130,000 to $150,000

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical structures and mechanisms for UAV platforms
• Create detailed 3D CAD models and drawings using SolidWorks
• Design airframe components, mounts, mechanisms, and structural assemblies
• Support composite structure design, including material selection and layup concepts
• Work closely with manufacturing to ensure design for manufacturability and assembly (DFMA)
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, electrical, avionics, and systems engineering teams
• Support structural analysis, tolerance analysis, and design trade studies
• Assist with prototype builds, ground testing, and flight testing
• Perform troubleshooting and iterative design improvements based on test results
• Maintain mechanical documentation and configuration control

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on advanced UAV platforms
• Close collaboration with a small, high-performance engineering team
• High‑impact role with direct contribution to flight hardware
• Dynamic and technically challenging work environment

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
• 5+ years of UAV-related experience or experience in aerospace or similar high-performance systems
• Strong experience designing mechanisms and structural components
• Familiar with 3‑D printing techniques
• Proficiency in SolidWorks for mechanical design and documentation
• Familiarity with composite materials and composite manufacturing processes
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced engineering environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Experience with composite airframes and lightweight structures
• Familiarity with UAV integration, ground testing, and flight test support
• Experience with aerospace materials, fasteners, and structural bonding techniques
• Knowledge of structural testing and validation methods

Working Conditions

Primarily in an office environment, and shop environment. Periodic weekend or evening work is expected. Travel is expected.

Must be US Person per ITAR requirements due to our contracts.

Swift Engineering is an EOE.

• 9/80 Schedule
• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance - 100% covered for Employees
• Dental Insurance - 100% covered for Employees
• Life Insurance - 100% covered by Swift, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• 401k with company match
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December, and highly competitive PTO plans.
• 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting.

About Swift Engineering

If you’re passionate about engineering, innovation and making a difference, we invite you to join the Swift Engineering family. Together, we are shaping the future of aerospace and creating technologies that will change the world.

The pay range for this role is: 130,000 - 150,000 USD per year (Swift Engineering)