Mechanical Engineer, Integration

Swarm Aero

$150K — $200K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in avionics or aircraft electrical engineering, particularly in aerospace, defense, or UAS platforms
  • Hands-on expertise in aircraft electrical system design including power distribution and load analysis
  • Strong knowledge of aerospace connector and cable families, and wiring practices
  • Proficient in wiring harness design tools like RapidHarness, Capital, or similar
  • Skilled in cable routing tools such as Solidworks, Catia Electrical, or equivalent
  • Experience with scripting interfaces between electrical schematics and CAD tools, ideally with Python
  • Track record taking avionics systems through design, integration, and flight testing.

Responsibilities

  • Own the avionics and electrical architecture for Swarm Aero UAVs, covering all from power generation to data integration
  • Design and develop aircraft electrical systems, including components and load analysis
  • Collaborate with mechanical teams to integrate avionics into airframes, ensuring secure mounting and routing
  • Define integration requirements for flight control, navigation, and communication subsystems
  • Create and maintain electrical schematics and wiring diagrams with appropriate design tools
  • Lead the integration process from bench testing to actual flight tests
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure compliance with electrical routing and EMI/EMC standards
  • Assist in investigating flight test anomalies and conduct root cause analyses on faults.

Benefits

  • Equity in a rapidly-growing defense tech company
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and 401k plans
  • Paid time off and sick leave
  • Monthly wellness stipend
  • Daily catered lunches for office employees
  • Paid parental leave
  • Opportunity to make a direct impact on national security missions
  • Access to a talented team tackling complex engineering challenges.
Full Job Description
Swarm Aero is building autonomous UAV swarms that operate in contested environments where the electrical and avionics systems have to work every time. We need an engineer who can own the full electrical stack, from power architecture and harness design through avionics integration and flight validation. This isn't a role where you hand off at the system boundary. You own it end to end.

What You'll Do
  • Own vehicle-level avionics and electrical architecture across the Swarm Aero UAV fleet, from power generation and distribution through sensor and data-bus integration
  • Design and develop aircraft electrical systems including power distribution, wire harness routing, connector selection, and load analysis
  • Work with the mechanical team to integrate avionics devices and cabling into the airframe by specifying or creating necessary mounts, brackets, and shelving
  • Define avionics interface requirements and integration approach across flight control, navigation, communication, and payload subsystems
  • Develop and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and ICDs using appropriate design tools
  • Lead avionics and electrical integration from bench testing through ground test and flight
  • Collaborate with structures, mechanical, and systems engineering teams to ensure electrical routing, grounding, shielding, and EMI/EMC requirements are met
  • Support flight test anomaly investigation and drive root cause analysis on avionics and electrical faults
  • Contribute to airworthiness documentation and flight authorization packages

What We're Looking For
  • 5+ years of avionics or aircraft electrical engineering experience on aerospace, defense, or UAS platforms
  • Hands-on experience with aircraft electrical system design including power distribution, wire harness design, and load analysis
  • Strong familiarity with aerospace connector families, cable families, and aerospace wiring practices.
  • Proficiency with wiring harness design tools such as RapidHarness, Capital, Artifact, or equivalent
  • Proficiency with cable routing tools such as Solidworks/Catia Electrical, NX Electrical, or equivalent
  • Experience scripting the interface between electrical wiring schematic and mechanical CAD routing tool with Python or other languages
  • Experience taking avionics or electrical systems from design through hardware integration and flight test
  • Comfortable working across hardware, software, and test disciplines in a fast-moving environment
  • US person status required; active security clearance a plus

Nice to Have
  • Experience specifically on UAS or unmanned aircraft programs
  • Background in MIL-STD-461 testing, EMI/EMC analysis and mitigation on flight vehicles
  • Familiarity with DO160 electrical sections, MIL-STD-704, AS50881, and related standards
  • Exposure to defense programs or military airworthiness processes
  • Sheet-metal or composites design experience (professional or hobby)
  • PCB design or embedded electronics background (professional or hobby)
  • Python experience

COMPENSATION

$150,000 - $200,000 + Equity

What We Offer
  • 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

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