Some engineers build aircraft...
Others make them unstoppable.
This team sits firmly in the second camp - designing the structural backbone of next-generation UAVs built for speed, resilience, and real-world performance.
We’re looking for a Senior Aerospace Structural Engineer who’s taken designs from concept to flight - someone who knows every gram saved is a story of trade-offs, equations, and ingenuity.
Here, you’ll lead the design and analysis of composite, metallic, and additive-manufactured structures, balancing lightweight design with durability and certification demands. You’ll own the full lifecycle - simulation, testing, validation, and production - and collaborate closely with aerodynamicists, propulsion specialists, and flight test engineers to bring advanced UAV systems to life.
If you love turning elegant theory into aircraft that can take a hit and keep flying, this is the kind of work that will get you out of bed in the morning.
What you’ll do
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Lead design and FEA analysis for advanced airframe structures
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Apply topology optimisation for lightweight, certifiable designs
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Define and oversee structural testing campaigns
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Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure structural integrity through concept, build, and flight test
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Mentor junior engineers and shape the direction of future UAV platforms
What you’ll bring
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10+ years in structural design and analysis across composite, metallic or additive-manufactured components
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Proficiency with FEA tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, Nastran, or HyperMesh
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Deep understanding of lightweighting, fatigue, and airworthiness standards
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Strong problem-solving instincts and a bias for getting things built
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Australian citizenship (required for Defence projects)
Why join
Because here, you’re not just signing off on drawings - you’re shaping the aircraft itself.
You’ll get:
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Real ownership of your designs, end to end
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A stake in the company through ESOP (they’re privately funded and moving fast)
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Rapid prototyping, flight testing, and the satisfaction of seeing your work take to the sky
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Career growth in a team that’s scaling quickly and values engineering excellence over bureaucracy
Reach out to Thaís on thais@theonset.com.au to find out more.