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Engineering Airframe Lead

Mojave, CA 93519

Posted: 05/21/2026 Industry: Airline - Aviation Job Number: QnhpRlBoRlJjVG4vOXRJazVQZW9CQT09 Pay Rate: 157000-237300 Yearly USD Job Code: JPC - 16189

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Engineering Airframe Lead
LOCATION: Mojave, CA
SALARY: $157,000-237,300/year varies based on education background and experience

We are a national aerospace and defense staffing agency seeking highly qualified candidates for a position with a top-tier client.

Job Details:

  • Work Schedule: Hybrid schedule available for highly qualified candidates (75–80% onsite / approximately 4 days per week onsite)

  • Travel Requirement: Less than 5% travel, as needed

  • Industry: Aerospace / Defense / Aviation

  • Benefits:

    • 9/80 work schedule

    • Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage

    • Paid maternity and parental leave

    • 401k company match up to $11,500

    • Tuition reimbursement

Qualifying Questions:

  • Are you a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined under ITAR regulations?

  • Do you meet the educational and experience requirements for this role?

  • Can you commute to the job location or relocate if necessary?

Summary: 

  • Lead a diverse team of mechanical and manufacturing engineers

  • Lead structural development of hypersonic flight vehicles, including trade studies and structural layouts

  • Serve as the technical authority for the structures subsystem and make final technical decisions

  • Lead successful execution of structural design reviews to advance programs through manufacturing and flight testing

  • Establish and guide the structural systems engineering approach, including:

    • Structural requirements creation and disposition

    • Mass properties management

    • Configuration management of models

    • Review and approval of documents, reports, and analyses

    • Engineering standards and best practices for the structures team

    • Technical risk assessments and approval/waiver of ground testing

  • Collaborate closely with Program Responsible Engineers and the Chief Engineer to ensure successful program execution

  • Provide regular program updates and technical communication to the Chief Engineer

  • Travel as required to support program objectives

  • Demonstrate integrity, accountability, and commitment to program success

Requirements:

  • Staff-level ($157,000-$206,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 10-20 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

  • Principal Level ($181,000-$237,300): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 20 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience

  • Experience in one or more of the following areas:

    • Mechanical design

    • Structural design and analysis

    • Mechanical systems

    • Structural-thermal analysis

    • Aircraft systems and operations

    • Launch vehicle integration

  • Significant experience in the rapid development of prototype or experimental flight vehicles, including full lifecycle involvement on at least one program

  • Significant experience serving as a design engineering lead and/or analyst on a structures team

  • Experience with metallic structures design, analysis, and manufacturing

  • Aerospace leadership experience, including coordination with subcontractors and external partners

  • Experience with risk management

  • Ability to thrive in small engineering teams with cross-functional responsibilities

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

  • 3D CAD experience (Siemens NX and Teamcenter preferred)

  • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

  • Configuration management tools such as JIRA, Git, JAMA, or similar systems

  • Ability to prioritize work, adapt quickly, and work independently in a fast-paced environment

  • Must be a U.S. Person (as defined by ITAR).

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development

  • Experience with air-launched vehicle development

  • Experience with composite structures design, analysis, and manufacturing

  • Experience with personnel management and small team leadership

  • Active Secret, Top Secret (TS), and/or SCI clearance preferred

  • Experience with FEMAP and Nastran

About Us:

The Structures Company is a premier national aerospace and defense staffing agency specializing in contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire placements. We deliver expert workforce solutions across engineering, IT, production, maintenance, and support roles.

As trusted partners to leading aerospace and defense OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, we connect professionals with career opportunities to grow and excel in aviation, aerospace, and defense.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) to comply with ITAR regulations.

Keywords: aerospace, aviation, engineering, maintenance, aircraft design, defense

Take your career to new heights—apply today!

Engineers - #Hotjobs 

Meet Your Recruiter

Shannon Cosgray

Shannon Cosgray is a Technical Recruiter with more than six years of staffing experience, including a strong focus on aerospace recruiting. She specializes in Embedded Software & Systems and is skilled at identifying and connecting top engineering talent with opportunities that are both technically and culturally aligned.
 
She is known for building trust through transparency and developing strong candidate relationships that lead to successful placements and positive candidate experiences. Her experience includes recruiting for embedded software engineers, systems engineers, and other highly specialized technical roles across the aerospace and defense industries.
 
A graduate of Purdue University, Shannon brings a results-driven, relationship-focused approach to recruiting, helping ensure both client success and candidate satisfaction.
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About Mojave, CA

Ready to embark on a new career journey in the gorgeous city of Mojave, California? This dynamic region in Kern County, nestled between the Tehachapi and San Gabriel Mountains, offers a perfect blend of scenic beauty and exciting growth opportunities. Mojave boasts a thriving aerospace industry, proximity to the famous Joshua Tree National Park, and a rich cultural scene with landmarks like the Mojave Air and Space Port, where cutting-edge technology meets historical aviation artifacts. Explore job listings in this vibrant area and discover why Mojave is not just a place to work, but a place to call home.