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Swift Engineering

Designs unmanned systems and aerospace vehicles

UAV Aerospace System Engineer

Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle SystemsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeSan Clemente, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field is required.
  • At least 10 years of experience and a strong understanding of autonomous systems and control are required.
  • Experience with autopilot architectures is required.
  • Familiarity with Ground Control Stations is required.
  • An understanding of radio systems and radio-frequency operations is required.
  • Experience with unmanned aerial vehicle system integration and flight operations is required.
  • Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and SolidWorks is required.
  • Ability to work effectively across multiple teams and disciplines is required.
  • Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills are required.
  • A U.S. Person status is required under International Traffic in Arms Regulations requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the architectural and system-level design of fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle platforms.
  • Define and integrate autonomous flight systems, including autopilot, navigation, and mission logic.
  • Oversee aircraft performance, configuration, and trade studies covering aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and power.
  • Collaborate with avionics, software, radio-frequency, operations, manufacturing, and test teams.
  • Provide technical leadership to a small engineering team.
  • Support flight test planning, execution, and post-flight analysis.
  • Interface with internal stakeholders and external partners as needed.
  • Contribute to system documentation, requirements definition, and design reviews.
  • Support field operations and customer engagements, including required travel.

Desired Qualifications

  • A master's degree or Ph.D. in Engineering or Physics is preferred.
  • Experience with High-Altitude Platform Systems or long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles is preferred.
  • A background in aircraft conceptual or preliminary design is preferred.
  • Experience leading or mentoring engineering teams is preferred.
  • Familiarity with regulatory, safety, and operational constraints for unmanned aerial vehicles is preferred.

About the Company

Swift Engineering

Designs unmanned systems and aerospace vehicles

Swift Engineering designs and builds high-performance vehicles, specializing in unmanned systems, autonomy, robotics, and advanced composites, with over 30 years of in-house design and manufacturing experience. Its Swift020 UAS takes off and lands like a quad-rotor and transitions to fixed-wing flight without extra launch or recovery gear, serving markets from oil and gas to delivery and defense, and features X-Blade Technology. The company differentiates itself through extensive in-house development and manufacturing, a long asset history such as the KillerBee evolving into Northrop Grumman Bat, and a systems approach that covers the full lifecycle of complex UAVs. Its goal is 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 while expanding unmanned capabilities.

Company size
51-200
Company stage
Grant
Total funding
$1.6M
Headquarters
San Clemente, CA
Founded
1983

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