Chief Engineer - Aeromechanical

Chief Aeromechanical Engineer

Location:

Scottsdale, Arizona (On-site) | Type:
Full-time

We build next-generation autonomous flight systems for defense and national security. Software isn't enough; the next era of defense relies on physical hardware – aircraft, sensors, and propulsion systems that perform reliably in the field. Having recently relocated our headquarters from California to Arizona's defense and manufacturing hub, we are rapidly scaling our programs and facilities.

We need a Chief Aeromechanical Engineer to take full ownership of our aeromechanical engineering division. You will lead the design, development, and production of our tactical unmanned electric aircraft systems (such as our Sandman platform), taking flight‑proven prototypes into full‑scale production while laying the groundwork for our future eVTOL programs. You will work directly with our CTO, who also has a deep aeromechanical background, to make major system‑level decisions.

This is a rare role where you get to build, hire, and run your own department from the ground up, while remaining directly hands‑on with CAD, rapid prototyping, and composite fabrication.

• Own the
  
  Roadmap:
  
  Take full responsibility for the aeromechanical division, establishing clear engineering timelines and leading the technical execution of our aircraft programs.
• Build Your Team: Hire and mentor the engineering talent needed to scale our prototyping and production efforts.
• Design & Test: Lead the conceptual and detailed design of fixed‑wing, lightweight composite structures. Stay active in Solid Works, rapid prototyping, and structural testing.
• Integrate Systems: Work closely with our flight dynamics, propulsion, and avionics teams to ensure the physical airframe smoothly integrates with our guidance systems and ultra‑lightweight battery tech.
• Scale Production: Guide existing, flight‑tested drone platforms through the transition from early prototypes to low‑rate and high‑volume production.

• Deep Aerospace Background: 10+ years of progressive engineering experience, ideally in unmanned systems, aerospace, or electric aviation. Experience moving from a small startup to a mid‑sized, production‑ready organization is a huge plus.
• Composites Expertise: Strong, practical knowledge of fixed‑wing aircraft design, specifically with composite materials (design, analysis, and fabrication).
• Leadership
  
  Experience:
  
  A proven track record of hiring engineers, managing complex projects, and keeping teams aligned under tight deadlines.
• Systems Mindset: The ability to look at the entire aircraft and find the right balance between aerodynamic performance, structural limits, weight, and manufacturing realities.
• The Tools: Advanced proficiency in Solid Works or equivalent aerospace CAD and analysis software.
• Clearance: US Citizenship is required due to defense program constraints.

If you fit this description and are ready to build some serious hardware, go ahead and apply. Let’s talk.