Full-Time

Senior Design Engineer

Design

Updated on 9/12/2026

Swift Engineering

Swift Engineering

51-200 employees

Designs unmanned systems and aerospace vehicles

Compensation Overview

$120k - $160k/yr

San Clemente, CA, USA

In Person

Out-of-town travel is rarely required.

Bachelor's

Category
Manufacturing & Process Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Microsoft Office
ERP
Word/Pages/Docs
SolidWorks
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
Microsoft Outlook

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Requirements
  • A B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering is required.
  • At least 7 years of experience in composite manufacturing processes is required.
  • Understanding of mechanics and materials science engineering disciplines is required.
  • A sound understanding of composite processing is required.
  • Experience with common composite finishing materials and processes is required.
  • Experience working within Tier 1, Nadcap, and AS 9102 composite aerospace environments, including configuration control, traceability, and quality processes, is required.
  • Experience using geometric dimensioning and tolerancing and common drawing practices is required.
  • CAD experience is required.
  • Experience using Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Project, is required.
Responsibilities
  • Support the evaluation, review, and technical planning of product requirements.
  • Document product structure and configuration, evaluate and approve necessary tools and software, develop work instructions, and communicate technical requirements and risks.
  • Design composite tools and fixtures.
  • Create and maintain detailed manufacturing instructions.
  • Review customer requirements and specifications.
  • Create internal composite specifications and procedures.
  • Approve drawings, manufacturing aids, and engineering orders.
  • Implement process improvements to reduce costs and cycle times.
  • Communicate changes and deviations to manufacturing by releasing revisions, red-lines, and engineering orders.
  • Review purchase orders.
  • Coordinate with Quality Assurance to assist with first article inspections.
  • Interface with customers on technical and program-related matters.
  • Perform material review board activities, first article inspections, and root cause investigations related to composites.
  • Create and maintain enterprise resource planning product structures and bill of materials entries.
  • Develop ply patterns and create cut files.
  • Perform other job-related duties and follow authorized job-related instructions or assignments.
Desired Qualifications
  • Familiarity with Boeing and Northrop Grumman material and process specifications is preferred.
  • Familiarity with SolidWorks and CATIA V5 is preferred.

Swift Engineering designs and builds high-performance vehicles with 30+ years of experience, specializing in unmanned systems, autonomy, robotics, and advanced composites. It conducts in-house product development and manufacturing, has produced more than 500 vehicles in a 60,000-square-foot facility, and has expanded into aerospace for both manned and unmanned programs. Its Swift020 Unmanned Air System is a winged drone that can take off and land like a quad-rotor and transition to efficient fixed-wing flight without extra launch or recovery equipment, serving markets such as oil and gas, maritime, emergency services, delivery, agriculture, research, surveillance, and defense, and features X-Blade Technology. The company aims to provide end-to-end development and production of high-performance unmanned and manned vehicles across multiple industries, reducing operation time and cost for customers.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

San Clemente, California

Founded

1983

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Swift won NASA SBIR Phase II on July 15, 2025, extending runway.
  • November 12, 2025 ATLA exhibitor status opens Japanese defense and procurement conversations.
  • May 21, 2025 hiring of Fernando Sarmiento expands composites manufacturing capacity.

What critics are saying

  • Revenue depends on NASA and defense awards; one missed renewal starves development.
  • SULE must prove 30-day flight in 2026 or lose credibility.
  • Without government-funded wins, Swift lacks scale against larger defense contractors.

What makes Swift Engineering unique

  • Swift Engineering combines design, manufacturing, and product development under one roof.
  • NASA Phase II funding backs its SULE high-altitude endurance drone platform.
  • ATLA Industry Day 2025 selection signals defense access in Tokyo.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Family Planning Benefits

Fertility Treatment Support

Company News

IMA Network
May 22nd, 2025
Swift Engineering Taps Fernando Sarmiento as Manufacturing Engineer in Companys Composites Unit

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - May 21, 2025 - Swift Engineering, a leading innovator in advanced solutions for unmanned aviation as well as a range of other critical applications, has appointed Fernando Sarmiento to the position of Manufacturing Engineer.