Airframe Design Engineer

Location: Remote – United States
Travel: 25%
Compensation: $150,000-$160,000 base salary

About the Company

A venture-backed defence technology startup developing a low-cost, fully autonomous interceptor drone. The company is moving from successful prototype development towards high-volume production.

The Role

We’re looking for an Airframe Design Engineer to take ownership of the aircraft’s airframe and aerostructures design. You’ll work closely with the existing manufacturing partner to understand the design, bring that knowledge in-house and help prepare the platform for scaled production.

What You’ll Do

• Own the airframe and aerostructures CAD models and design baseline.
• Work closely with the manufacturing partner to transfer design knowledge and bring expertise in-house.
• Improve the design for manufacturability, weight and cost.
• Support prototype builds, ground testing and flight testing.
• Help develop and refine the airframe as the company scales production.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in airframe, aerostructures or mechanical design.
• Strong CAD skills using tools such as SolidWorks, Siemens NX or CATIA.
• An understanding of aircraft structures, mechanical design and engineering principles.
• The curiosity and ability to quickly understand an existing design and take ownership of it.
• US citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Nice to Have

• Experience with small UAVs, missiles or composite structures.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or external engineering partners.
• Exposure to Design for Manufacturing (DFM), prototyping and production processes.

Why Join?

Take ownership of an aircraft design early in your career and help bring it from prototype to high-volume production. You’ll work closely with an experienced manufacturing partner, build valuable in-house design expertise and have a direct impact on the development of next-generation autonomous defence technology.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Nikyle Maipath