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Swarm Aero is building the world's largest swarming UAV fleet and command & control software for autonomous aircraft networks. The company is founded by experienced aerospace engineers from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic, and is backed by Series A funding.
You will own the design of major airframe structures—wing box, fuselage sections, empennage, and large bonded assemblies—for a clean-sheet swarming aircraft program. This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you spend most of your time designing and reviewing structure rather than managing. You will set the design approach for large composite primary structures, make architectural decisions on joints and load paths, and lead a team of structures engineers through first flight.
Key responsibilities include:
• Defining structural architecture for large composite parts: laminate strategy, core usage, joint philosophy, and load paths
• Leading and mentoring structures design engineers, setting standards for models, drawings, and design reviews
• Driving trades on part count, tooling approach, assembly sequence, weight, cost, schedule, and producibility
• Solving unique challenges of large-scale structures: dimensional control over large spans, thermal growth in cure, handling/fixturing, and transport constraints
• Collaborating daily with stress analysis, materials & processes, and composites manufacturing teams
• Owning design maturity from preliminary design review through critical design review, first article, structural test, and first flight
You bring 8+ years designing aircraft structure with direct ownership of large composite primary structures (wings, wing boxes, fuselage barrels/panels, empennage). You have deep knowledge of composite design and manufacturing at scale, including laminate design, large tool design, cure behavior, and bonded/bolted joints. You've led engineers through full development cycles from concept through structural test or flight. You're proficient in CAD (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks), strong in GD&T with datum strategies for large assemblies, and have a hands-on mindset—you've stood on the shop floor and changed designs based on what you observed. You make decisions with incomplete data and iterate quickly.
The role requires onsite presence in Oxnard, CA, and ITAR eligibility (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for State Department authorization).
Compensation includes meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology company, competitive base salary, medical/dental/vision, 401k, PTO, paid sick leave, wellness stipend, catered lunch, and paid parental leave.
