Mechanical Engineer, Landing Gear

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Swarm Aero seeks a seasoned Mechanical Engineer to own landing gear design for its next generation swarming aircraft in Oxnard, CA. This on-site role demands first-principles, lightweight yet robust solutions and close collaboration with structures, flight controls and systems integration. You’ll design from scratch, validate with analysis and testing, select materials, oversee manufacturing, and craft certification documentation. Requirements: 7+ years in aerospace or related high‑performance fields, direct landing gear or suspension experience, expert SolidWorks/CATIA/NX, FEA, and DFM, plus lab prototyping. Preferred: retractable gear, FAA/MIL‑SPEC familiarity, composites, startups, Python/MATLAB. Compensation: $150k-$220k + equity. Tips: tailor your resume to quantify gear projects, testing results, and cross‑functional impact, and note ITAR eligibility.

Swarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and the most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming, as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results. 

The team has created and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars, and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic.

We're looking for a seasoned Mechanical Engineer to own the design and development of landing gear systems for our next-generation aircraft. This isn't about iterating on existing designs—you'll be creating new solutions from first principles, making critical trade-offs, and seeing your work fly.

You'll work closely with structures, flight controls, and systems integration teams to deliver landing gear that's lightweight, robust, and optimized for our unique operational requirements. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where your decisions shape the aircraft.

Responsibilities: 

• Design from scratch: Lead mechanical design of landing gear systems including shock absorption, actuation, retraction mechanisms, and structural interfaces
• Analysis and validation: Perform stress analysis, fatigue calculations, kinematics modeling, and validate designs through simulation and testing
• Material selection and manufacturing: Select materials and manufacturing processes optimized for weight, strength, and cost; work with vendors and internal production teams
• Testing and iteration: Develop test plans, oversee ground and flight testing, analyze results, and iterate rapidly based on data
• Integration: Collaborate with adjacent engineering teams (structures, electrical, flight controls) to ensure seamless system integration
• Documentation: Create detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and technical reports to support certification and production

Required:

• 7+ years of mechanical engineering experience in aerospace, automotive, or related high-performance systems
• Direct experience designing landing gear, suspension systems, or similar mechanical systems with shock absorption and actuation
• Expert-level skills in SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX
• Strong background in FEA (ANSYS, Abaqus, etc.), structural analysis, and mechanical system modeling
• Understanding of machining, composites, additive manufacturing, and DFM principles
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, make sound engineering trade-offs, and move quickly
• Comfortable working in a lab/shop environment, building prototypes, and troubleshooting hardware

Preferred:

• Experience with retractable landing gear systems
• Background in aerospace structures or aircraft systems integration
• Familiarity with FAA/MIL-SPEC certification requirements
• Experience with composite materials and lightweighting strategies
• Prior work at aerospace startups or fast-paced development programs
• Programming/scripting skills (Python, MATLAB) for automation and analysis

What we Offer:

• Meaningful equity stake in a high-growth defense technology company
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience  
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)
• PTO and paid sick time
• Monthly Wellness Stipend
• Daily catered lunch to office
• Paid parental leave
• Direct impact opportunity - be a key leader in building a critical technology for national security
• World-class team - work alongside exceptional engineers and operators solving hard problems 

Compensation Range:

• $150,000 - $220,000 + Equity 

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and trustworthy work environment, Swarm Aero conducts a thorough screening of prospective employees. Candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background verification process as a prerequisite for employment.

To conform to U.S. Government controlled technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.