{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"ecb81f4325dd9bd0e0e6b5de","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/ecb81f4325dd9bd0e0e6b5de","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/ecb81f4325dd9bd0e0e6b5de","title":"Lead Structures Engineer","description":"I’m partnering with an aerospace startup in San Diego, CA developing a clean-sheet, next-generation aircraft platform. We’re looking for a Lead Structures Engineer to take technical ownership of the airframe and lead structural development from early design through build, test, and first flight.\n\nThis is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who has deep experience in aircraft structures, composites, and full-cycle airframe development.\n\nWhat You’ll Own\n\nLead the structural design and development of a clean-sheet aircraft\n\nOwn the overall airframe structural approach from concept through first flight\n\nLead structural architecture, trade studies, detailed design, and execution\n\nGuide and mentor a team of structures engineers\n\nWork closely with manufacturing, analysis, suppliers, and company leadership\n\nDrive structural design decisions around load paths, joints, composites, manufacturability, and assembly\n\nSupport initial part and joint sizing using hand calculations and/or FEA\n\nHelp transition designs from engineering into tooling, fabrication, assembly, and test\n\nWhat We’re Looking For\n\n10+ years of aircraft structural design experience\n\nB.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience\n\nStrong understanding of aircraft load paths and structural behavior\n\nDeep experience with composite airframe structures\n\nExperience designing bolted and bonded joints\n\nStrong proficiency with NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks\n\nExperience taking aircraft structures from concept/preliminary design through build\n\nKnowledge of design for manufacturing, tooling, manufacturing planning, and assembly\n\nExperience with initial structural sizing using hand calculations and/or FEA\n\nFamiliarity with FAA Part 23 and/or Part 25\n\nAbility to operate effectively in a fast-paced aircraft development environment\n\nEspecially Relevant Background\nExperience with clean-sheet aircraft, rapid prototype programs, experimental aircraft, composite airframes, structural testing, or programs taken from kickoff through production is highly valued.\n\nThis is an opportunity to have significant technical ownership over a new aircraft rather than owning a small piece of a mature program.\n\n#J-18808-Ljbffr","company":"Apera","rawCompany":"apera","city":"California","state":"MO","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-10-01T03:24:42.623Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2011.00","title":"Aerospace Engineers","slug":"aerospace-engineers"},{"code":"11-9041.00","title":"Architectural and Engineering Managers","slug":"architectural-and-engineering-managers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"}],"industries":[{"code":"336411","title":"Aircraft Manufacturing","slug":"aircraft-manufacturing"},{"code":"541330","title":"Engineering Services","slug":"engineering-services"},{"code":"336413","title":"Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing","slug":"other-aircraft-parts-and-auxiliary-equipment-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Lead Structures Engineer","description":"I’m partnering with an aerospace startup in San Diego, CA developing a clean-sheet, next-generation aircraft platform. We’re looking for a Lead Structures Engineer to take technical ownership of the airframe and lead structural development from early design through build, test, and first flight.\n\nThis is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who has deep experience in aircraft structures, composites, and full-cycle airframe development.\n\nWhat You’ll Own\n\nLead the structural design and development of a clean-sheet aircraft\n\nOwn the overall airframe structural approach from concept through first flight\n\nLead structural architecture, trade studies, detailed design, and execution\n\nGuide and mentor a team of structures engineers\n\nWork closely with manufacturing, analysis, suppliers, and company leadership\n\nDrive structural design decisions around load paths, joints, composites, manufacturability, and assembly\n\nSupport initial part and joint sizing using hand calculations and/or FEA\n\nHelp transition designs from engineering into tooling, fabrication, assembly, and test\n\nWhat We’re Looking For\n\n10+ years of aircraft structural design experience\n\nB.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience\n\nStrong understanding of aircraft load paths and structural behavior\n\nDeep experience with composite airframe structures\n\nExperience designing bolted and bonded joints\n\nStrong proficiency with NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks\n\nExperience taking aircraft structures from concept/preliminary design through build\n\nKnowledge of design for manufacturing, tooling, manufacturing planning, and assembly\n\nExperience with initial structural sizing using hand calculations and/or FEA\n\nFamiliarity with FAA Part 23 and/or Part 25\n\nAbility to operate effectively in a fast-paced aircraft development environment\n\nEspecially Relevant Background\nExperience with clean-sheet aircraft, rapid prototype programs, experimental aircraft, composite airframes, structural testing, or programs taken from kickoff through production is highly valued.\n\nThis is an opportunity to have significant technical ownership over a new aircraft rather than owning a small piece of a mature program.\n\n#J-18808-Ljbffr","datePosted":"2026-10-01T03:24:42.623Z","dateModified":"2026-10-01T03:24:42.623Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Apera","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"California","addressRegion":"MO","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"ecb81f4325dd9bd0e0e6b5de"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/ecb81f4325dd9bd0e0e6b5de"}}