Principal Structures Engineer

✈️ Principal Structures Engineer Southern California (On-Site) We're supporting a defense technology company in Southern California developing advanced aerial systems for U.S. defense programmes. This is a role that doesn't come up often. Full technical ownership of primary airframe structure – concept through production – on platforms that go directly into operational use. You'd be the strongest technical voice on a lean, capable, and fast-growing engineering team. The person others come to when the hard problems land, and someone who genuinely wants to bring the engineers around them up with them.

The work:

Primary and secondary airframe structure across the full development lifecycle First-principles structural analysis – hand calcs, load reviews, material selection, test correlation Design across composites, additive, and traditional manufacturing methods SolidWorks, GD&T, DVP&R, and hands-on prototyping You might come from: Fixed-wing structural design in aerospace or defense A fast-paced environment where you've taken hardware from concept to flight A background mentoring and elevating engineers around you What makes this different: Genuine technical authority in a high-trust environment Hardware with real-world operational impact Flexibility on hours – firm on Southern California, on-site US citizenship required (ITAR). $180,000-$215,000+ | Equity | Great benefits package | Relocation package available Interested? Apply within or email the recruiter directly: kyle.gauntlett@darwinrecruitment.com Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. Kyle Gauntlett