Swarm Aero
Materials & Process Engineer, Composites R&D
Oxnard, CA
Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 198 days ago
FEAStructural AnalysisAerospace EngineeringResearchCollaboration
About the role
- Swarm Aero is building autonomous UAV systems that push the limits of what composite airframes can do at production scale.
- As our Materials & Process Engineer, you will own the R&D work that makes that possible, developing novel material systems and manufacturing processes from concept through validation.
- This is a hands-on research role: you will originate material selections, design and run experiments, generate first-principles data, and build the process foundation that our structures will be manufactured against.
Responsibilities
- Develop and evaluate composite material systems for structural aircraft components, including resin systems, fiber architectures, and core materials, with an emphasis on novel or emerging approaches suited to high-performance UAS
- Design and execute material characterization programs: mechanical testing, environmental exposure, fatigue, and failure analysis, generating original data, not just referencing existing databases
- Develop manufacturing processes for complex composite structures, including layup, tooling, cure cycle development, and inspection criteria
- Drive design-for-manufacturability collaboration with the structures team, influencing part geometry and assembly strategy from early design stages
- Build process documentation and qualification frameworks that can scale with production rate
- Experience generating original material data through designed experiments and testing programs
- Familiarity with structural simulation tools (FEA) and ability to collaborate on model correlation with test data
Requirements
- 7+ years of experience in composite structures development, with demonstrated ownership of material or process research, not solely production execution
- Hands-on composite fabrication experience across multiple material systems (thermoset, thermoplastic, sandwich structures, or similar)
Nice to have
- M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, or equivalent depth through industry R&D work
- Experience in an aerospace R&D environment: defense prime, national lab, advanced manufacturing group, or high-velocity startup
- Experience scaling a process from prototype to production, understanding both the R&D and the manufacturing translation
- Exposure to UAS, UAM, or other high-performance unmanned platforms
- Candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background verification process as a prerequisite for employment.
Compensation
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
Benefits
- Meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology company
- Medical, dental, vision, and 401k
- PTO and paid sick leave
- Monthly wellness stipend
- Paid parental leave
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