Composites Technician at Swarm Aero
Swarm Aero is hiring a Composites Technician in Oxnard, CA, US. On-site. Pay: USD 80k-110k/yr.
About Swarm Aero
Swarm Aero develops technology that enables small teams to mobilize thousands of uncrewed vehicles in communications-limited, contested environments. The company focuses on air power and has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Lab. It is based in Oxnard, California.
Composites Technician job description
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.
About the Role
We're building real aircraft structure today, and we're scaling the shop that builds it. The processes exist. Making them better is the job.
We're not looking for someone who just follows a layup schedule. We're looking for someone who reads one, sees the three things that could be done better, and proves it on the table. You'll work shoulder to shoulder with engineering on real aircraft hardware, and the best ideas about how we build tend to come off the floor first.
What You'll Do
Lay up, bag, cure, trim, and finish composite aircraft structure to a quality bar that doesn't move
Close the gap between what a process says and what the part actually does, and bring engineering the fix rather than just the problem
Take the hard ones: complex geometry, tight tolerance, large bonded assemblies, and the builds where the established approach isn't working
Prototype and prove out new techniques, tooling concepts, and process improvements, then help turn the ones that work into how we build
Support material and process qualification with engineering: fabricate test articles, run trials, and capture results well enough that they mean something
Help us scale: train incoming technicians, sharpen work instructions, and drive repeatability from first articles to rate
Foster a manufacturing culture built around curiosity, rigor, and continuous improvement
What You Bring
5+ years of deep, hands-on composites experience, with colleagues who come to you when something doesn't behave the way it should
You think in terms of resin systems, cure cycles, fiber architecture, and void content, not just layup sequences
As comfortable discussing the chemistry behind a prepreg system as you are running an autoclave or troubleshooting a bonded joint
Proven ability to take ownership of undefined problems and turn them into documented, repeatable solutions
Thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where structure is built, not given
Experience with material characterization, mechanical testing, or process development in an R&D or advanced manufacturing setting is a strong plus
ITAR requirement
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant 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.
Swarm Aero is an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse backgrounds and experiences and make employment decisions without regard to race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability.
What We Offer
Meaningful equity in a high-growth defense technology company
Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
Medical, dental, vision, and 401k
PTO and paid sick leave
Monthly wellness stipend
Daily catered lunch (office)
Paid parental leave
Direct impact on a critical national security mission
A world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problems
Apply now
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