Structural Design Engineer

Overview

Key Responsibilitiesstructural Design

• Design primary and secondary structures including airframes, panels, mounts, ribs, brackets, and ground/test support equipment
• Develop structural concepts from first principles, balancing performance requirements with weight targets and manufacturing constraints
• Select appropriate materials and structural configurations — metallic and composite — based on load cases, environmental conditions, and weight
• Optimize structures for strength, stiffness, fatigue life, and mass efficiency across the full design envelope
• Define and manage structural interfaces with adjacent subsystems (propulsion, avionics, payload, landing gear, etc.)

Loads & Stress Analysis

• Ensure structures are sized and validated to withstand all operational load cases, including static loads, dynamic loads, launch loads, landing/impact loads, and vibration environments
• Perform hand calculations and FEA to confirm structural margins across the design envelope
• Identify structural risks early in the design cycle and drive resolution through analysis, design iteration, or test

Composite Design & Manufacturing

• Define layup sequences, and production concepts in collaboration with manufacturing
• Apply knowledge of composite manufacturing processes (wet layup, prepreg, resin infusion) to ensure designs are producible at prototype and series scale

Prototype & Production Support

• Support hands-on prototype assembly, providing on-vehicle integration guidance and resolving fit/form issues in real time
• Produce clear, accurate, manufacturing-ready part and assembly drawings in line with engineering drawing standards
• Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure designs are producible and cost-effective

Validation & Documentation

• Develop validation and test plans to verify that integrated assemblies meet design requirements
• Support physical testing activities, recording observations and analyzing results against acceptance criteria
• Author thorough technical reports and presentation to support design reviews and project milestones

What We'Re Looking Forexperience

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in structural design and analysis within aerospace, automotive, or a high-performance engineering environment
• Proven track record of taking structures from concept through to manufactured, tested hardware
• Demonstrated experience designing with composite materials — not just analysis, but design-for-manufacture
• Experience working within multi-disciplinary teams and managing competing design constraints across subsystems

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in

Solidworks

• ***(Preferred)***
• /CATIA/Siemens NX (3D modelling, surfacing, assemblies, and drawing)
• Competent in producing 2D production drawings to industry standards (GD&T, ASME/ISO)
• Hands-on experience with FEA tools (SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, Nastran, or equivalent) for static, dynamic, and modal analysis
• Strong working knowledge of composites materials
• Solid understanding of metallic structural design
• Familiarity with PDM/PLM systems for data management

Education

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical Engineering, structural Engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Master's Degree with specialization in aerostructures, composites or a closely related discipline is advantageous
• Bonus Points — Nice to Have
• Familiarity with aerospace certification/qualification frameworks (e.g. EASA, FAA, DEF STAN, or equivalent)
• Exposure to aeroelasticity, flutter analysis, or coupled loads
• Experience with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for composite structures
• Knowledge of thermally loaded structures

Who You Are

• You think in systems but sweat the details — you understand how a bracket affects the product from all aspects of design not just the load path
• You bring structured, first-principles thinking to design problems and communicate your reasoning clearly
• You are a self-starter who takes full ownership of your designs from concept through to test and sign-off
• You are collaborative — you engage proactively with manufacturing, Integration, avionics and aerodynamics teams rather than working in isolation
• You are organized, thorough in your documentation, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where requirements can evolve