Structures Engineer, Air Vehicles | On-site Opportunity | Fastwater Staffing

Location: Costa Mesa, California, USAEmployment Type: Full-TimeWork Arrangement: On-siteStart Date: ImmediateCompensation:TBD -- based on skills and experience

Important Screening Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder).
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret Security Clearance.
• Candidates should have a strong interest in supporting advanced defense and national security programs.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Structures Engineer to support the design, analysis, and development of advanced air vehicle platforms. In this role, you will own the full structural development lifecycle—from conceptual design through prototype manufacturing—while designing high-performance primary and secondary aircraft structures. You'll collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop lightweight, resilient, and manufacturable aerospace systems that meet demanding performance and mission requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop primary and secondary aircraft structural components and assemblies using metallic and composite materials.
• Perform structural modeling and finite element analysis (FEA) at the component, assembly, and vehicle levels.
• Conduct structural analyses, including strength, buckling, fatigue, damage tolerance, and delamination assessments.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles to optimize cost, manufacturability, and performance.
• Conduct engineering trade studies to evaluate weight, performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
• Collaborate with systems, aerodynamics, manufacturing, integration, and project engineering teams.
• Support prototype builds, manufacturing, integration, and testing activities.
• Prepare technical documentation, engineering analyses, and design reports.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace structural design, analysis, or related engineering roles.
• Experience with CAD software and engineering data analysis tools.
• Proficiency with structural analysis software such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Structural mechanics
  • Composite materials
  • Structural design and analysis
  • Stress analysis
  • Fatigue assessment
  • Load path development
  • Structural testing and fabrication
• Strong engineering fundamentals and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative engineering environment.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with clean-sheet aircraft development.
• Proficiency with Siemens NX.
• Experience developing and manufacturing prototype uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
• Experience selecting and applying high-temperature materials.
• Broad experience across multiple aircraft development programs.
• Hands-on manufacturing or fabrication experience.
• Practical aviation experience (e.g., pilot's license, A&P certification, or equivalent).