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Swarm Aero is building autonomous swarming UAVs and the command & control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming, with a team that has exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions, and designed 30+ novel aircraft.
You will own structural design and sizing for primary and secondary airframe structure, including wing, fuselage, empennage, and major joints on a Group 5 autonomous aircraft currently in detailed design with tooling in work. This is a hands-on role focused on design and analysis rather than coordination. You will spend most days in CAD and FEA, with time in the shop observing manufacturing and validating your designs.
Key responsibilities include:
- Develop loads and criteria sets, then turn them into sized structure with documented margins
- Run static, buckling, fatigue, and dynamic analysis in FEA; know when hand calculations are faster and better
- Design in composites and metallics, making material selection decisions based on weight, cost, and manufacturing rate
- Work directly with manufacturing on layup design, tooling concepts, part count, and assembly sequence
- Define and run structural testing from coupon and element testing through full-scale static test
- Support integration of propulsion, landing/recovery systems, payload bays, and control surface actuation
- Own parts end-to-end from concept through drawings, vendor coordination, first article, and flight testing
The aircraft is small enough organizationally that the engineer who designs a part will see it come off the tool and learn the same week whether their design decisions were correct.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or 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
- 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 Oxnard headquarters for onsite collaboration
PREFERRED:
- Extensive experience in new product development within small, agile teams
- Experience in composite aircraft manufacturing techniques, including bonded structures
- Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills; strong design skills with Siemens NX/Fibersim and PLM systems like Teamcenter
- Comprehensive knowledge of aviation industry practices and DoD certification standards
- Outstanding communication, time management, collaboration, and leadership abilities
ITAR REQUIREMENT: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
