Job Description
Shape the next generation of UAVs from design through commercialization.
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Position Overview
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We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary Lead Aeromechanical Engineer to spearhead the structural and mechanical development of our next-generation flight vehicles. In this role, you will bridge the gap between initial aerodynamic concepts and scaled production, providing both deep technical expertise and strategic leadership.
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The ideal candidate brings a robust background in composite airframe development, taking structures from initial layout through full-rate production environments. While overseeing complex aeromechanical systems, you will guide a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians, ensuring our platforms meet stringent performance, weight, and reliability standards.
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Key Responsibilities
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Technical Leadership & Strategy
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- Drive the technical roadmap for aircraft structures and aeromechanical subsystems from conceptual architecture through detailed design, qualification, and manufacturing.
- Lead and mentor a team of structural, mechanical, and materials engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, rigorous analysis, and high workmanship standards.
- Manage technical trade-offs between aerodynamic efficiency, structural weight, manufacturing complexity, and cost.
- Oversee mid-to-large scale engineering work, coordinating seamlessly with internal cross-functional teams (avionics, propulsion, guidance) and external vendors or sub-contractors.
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Composite Design & Production Integration
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- Own the composite airframe life cycle, including initial structural sizing, material selection, detailed laminate design, and structural optimization.
- Bridge the gap between design and the shop floor by establishing manufacturing workflows, tooling concepts, and QA/QC parameters for composite layups, bagging, infusion, curing, and bonding.
- Develop and execute comprehensive structural test plans, including coupon-level testing, component-level testing, and full-scale vehicle structural qualification.
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UAV System Development
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- Adapt aerospace design philosophies to the fast-paced development cycles of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
- Maximize aircraft performance through innovative payload integration, environmental packaging (vibration, thermal, and shock isolation), and rapid mechanism prototyping.
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Required Qualifications
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Education & Experience
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- Education: Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Experience: 10+ years of progressive engineering experience in aerospace vehicle design, with a proven track record in a technical leadership or principal engineer role.
- Composite Expertise: Demonstrated success in the design, stress analysis, and production implementation of primary and secondary composite structures (carbon fiber, fiberglass, sandwich panels).
- Production Background: Hands-on experience working directly with manufacturing teams to transition composite concepts into repeatable, scalable production processes.
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Technical Skills
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- Advanced proficiency with CAD software (e.g., CATIA, NX, SolidWorks) and composite design modules.
- Deep understanding of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools (e.g., Femap, Nastran, ANSYS) for composite laminate analysis, failure criteria, and structural dynamics.
- Experience with rapid prototyping workflows, tool design, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
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Preferred Qualifications
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- Direct experience in the development, flight testing, and production scaling of small-to-medium Unmanned UAV systems (fixed-wing, multirotor, or eVTOL).
- Experience with defense or aerospace development programs where rapid iteration, vehicle flight speed, and agility are highly prioritized.
- Familiarity with building internal analysis tools or leveraging advanced automation/AI workflows to accelerate design verification.
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About Knightwerx
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Knightwerx develops American-made, AI-powered unmanned aerial systems and remote sensing technologies that support human-machine teaming in mission-critical environments. We build next-generation aerospace and autonomy solutions for both commercial and government customers where performance, speed, and reliability matter.
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As a growing company, we offer the opportunity to work close to the mission, close to the product, and close to the decisions that shape what gets built.
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Additional Information
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• Onsite position in Scottsdale, AZ
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• Relocation assistance available for this role
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• US Citizenship Required
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• Collaborative engineering environment