About this RoleWe are building a Group 5 autonomous aircraft and driving it to first flight. We are in detailed design with tooling in work, and we are looking for a structures design engineer to own parts on that aircraft from concept through first article.
You will design and size real hardware: control surfaces, ribs and spars, frames, doors and access panels, fittings and joints. You will take your parts all the way out, through analysis, drawings, vendor coordination, first article, and the fixes that come after. Our structures lead sets the architecture and the design approach. Inside that, your parts are yours.
This is a role for someone who wants to design more and coordinate less. You will be in CAD and in FEA most days, and in the shop the rest of them. The aircraft is small enough as an organization that the person who draws a part is the person who sees it come off the tool, and finds out the same week whether the call they made was right.
What you'll do- Own structural design and sizing for primary and secondary airframe structure, including wing, fuselage, empennage, and major joints
- Develop the loads and criteria set for the aircraft and turn it into sized structure with documented margins
- Run static, buckling, fatigue, and dynamic analysis in FEA, and know when hand calcs are the faster and better answer
- Design in composites and metallics, and make the call on which belongs where based on weight, cost, and rate
- Work directly with manufacturing on layup design, tooling concepts, part count, and assembly sequence so the design we release is the design we can build
- Define and run structural test, from coupon and element testing through component and full scale static test, and reconcile test results against the model
- Support integration of propulsion, landing or recovery systems, payload bays, and control surface actuation into the structure
- Own your parts end to end, from concept through drawings, vendor coordination, first article, and flight
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in composite structure design for aircraft, spacecraft, or similar vehicles.
- Deep understanding of composite and metal material properties, composite laminate design, composite structure analysis, bonding and joining techniques.
- Strong expertise in CAD software, particularly Siemens NX and Fibersim, or equivalent software.
- Led the design and analysis of composite structures throughout the product lifecycle, from conceptualization to production.
- Hands-on experience with composite part fabrication and bonding.
- Familiarity with aviation industry standards and DoD certification requirements.
- Ability and willingness to travel to our Oxnard headquarters for onsite collaboration and meetings.
Preferred Qualifications:- Extensive experience in new product development, especially within small, agile teams.
- Experience in composite aircraft manufacturing techniques, including bonded structures.
- Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills. Strong design skills using Siemens NX/Fibersim and experience with PLM systems like Teamcenter.
- Comprehensive knowledge of aviation industry practices and DoD certification standards.
- Outstanding communication, time management, collaboration, and leadership abilities, with a proven track record of successfully working in cross-functional teams.
What we Offer:- Meaningful equity stake in a high-growth defense technology company
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)
- PTO and paid sick time
- Monthly Wellness Stipend
- Daily catered lunch to office
- Paid parental leave
- Direct impact opportunity - be a key leader in building a critical technology for national security
- World-class team - work alongside exceptional engineers and operators solving hard problems
