Firestorm Labs
Principal Airframe Design Engineer
$153K–$206K
San Diego, United States · On-site · Principal · Full-time · Posted Aug 12, 2026
- Experience
- 10+ years required; 12+ years preferred.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Visa sponsorship
- U.S. citizenship is required, along with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. For export-control compliance, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State or Department of Commerce authorizations.
About the job
Leads the design, analysis, testing, and production of UAV airframe structures and mechanical subsystems, coordinating with engineering and manufacturing teams throughout the hardware lifecycle.
What you'll do
- Lead airframe and subsystem design from concept and prototyping through testing, production, and field support.
- Analyze structures, oversee testing, and resolve design issues while optimizing performance, weight, cost, and manufacturability.
- Coordinate mechanical and electromechanical integration, technical reviews, documentation, and engineering standards; mentor other engineers.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 10+ years of mechanical design experience working directly with aircraft design.
- Experience taking complex mechanical assemblies from concept to production, with structural analysis and hands-on application of DFM principles.
- SolidWorks and GD&T experience; U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
Nice to have
- 12+ years of professional mechanical design experience working directly with aircraft structural design.
- Experience correlating analytical results with physical test data; familiarity with CAD configuration management or injection-molded and polymer additive-manufactured components.
Pay
$153,000 - $206,000 USD (base salary)
Tools
SolidWorks, GD&T, DVP&R, PCBAs
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative