Structure Design Engineer

This is a general application for structures and composite design engineers at Swarm Aero, a defense technology company building swarming UAVs. The role involves owning the design of major composite airframe structure from concept through first flight, defining laminates and joints, collaborating with stress analysts and manufacturing, and supporting structural test campaigns. The position is on-site in Oxnard, CA.

Responsibilities

• Own the design of major composite airframe structure from concept through first flight
• Define laminates, ply drops, and core layouts that balance weight, strength, and producibility
• Design bonded and bolted joints for primary structure
• Work side by side with stress analysts to close margins and iterate quickly
• Partner with composites manufacturing on layup, cure, and assembly methods
• Release engineering drawings and models that shops can actually build from
• Support structural test campaigns and incorporate findings back into the design

Requirements

• BS or MS in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering field
• 3+ years designing composite or metallic structure for aircraft, spacecraft, or other high-performance vehicles
• Working knowledge of composite materials, layup methods, and failure modes
• Proficiency in CAD (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) and solid GD&T fundamentals
• Hands-on mindset. You have walked the shop floor and changed your design because of what you saw there
• Bias toward speed. You release, build, test, and iterate
• Ability to work onsite in Oxnard, CA

Nice to have

• Experience designing composite primary structure on a certified or flight-tested aircraft
• Familiarity with prepreg, infusion, or out-of-autoclave processes
• Experience with FEA tools (Nastran, Abaqus, HyperMesh) or close collaboration with stress teams
• Experience taking structure through static, fatigue, or qualification testing
• Startup or small-team experience where you owned large scope

Benefits

• Meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology company
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Medical, dental, vision, and 401k
• PTO and paid sick leave
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Daily catered lunch (office)
• Paid parental leave
• Direct impact on a critical national security mission
• A world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problems