Fruition Group · 4 weeks ago
Director of Mechanical Engineering
California, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
10+ years expFruition Group is seeking a Director of Mechanical Structures to lead the design, analysis, and development of airframe structures for UAV and hybrid-electric aircraft programs. This role involves overseeing structural integrity, safety, and certification compliance while leading a team of structural engineers and collaborating with various technical teams to deliver high-performance aircraft structures.
DevOpsProject ManagementRecruitingSoftware Engineering
Responsibilities
Lead and grow the mechanical structures team, providing mentorship, technical guidance, and career development
Define structural design philosophy, architecture, and material selection for UAV and hybrid-electric aircraft programs
Oversee stress analysis, load paths, finite element modeling, and structural validation testing
Drive airframe integration with propulsion, avionics, flight controls, and other aircraft systems
Ensure structural designs meet safety, performance, and regulatory requirements, including aerospace certification standards (ARP4754B, Part 23/27/29, DO-254)
Collaborate with manufacturing, test, and supply chain teams to ensure producible, scalable, and cost-effective structures
Establish engineering processes, design standards, and best practices for structural development
Represent the mechanical structures function to executive leadership, partners, and regulatory authorities
Qualification
Required
Master's degree or PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering, or a related field
10+ years of experience in aerospace structural design, analysis, and testing, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams
Proven track record of developing UAV, eVTOL, or regional aircraft structures from concept through certification
Expertise in composite and metallic airframe design, stress analysis, load calculations, and FEA tools (e.g., Nastran, Abaqus, CATIA)
Deep understanding of systems integration and multidisciplinary trade-offs between structures, aerodynamics, and propulsion
Familiarity with aerospace certification processes (ARP4754B, Part 23/27/29, DO-254) and safety-critical design requirements
Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills in high-complexity technical environments
Preferred
Experience with hybrid-electric aircraft, eVTOL/eSTOL, or advanced air mobility platforms
Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping, structural testing, and flight validation
Knowledge of manufacturability, assembly processes, and supply chain considerations for aircraft structures
Track record of scaling engineering teams during rapid growth phases
Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and technical challenges
Company
Fruition Group
We provide innovative talent solutions for high-growth markets, connecting exceptional people with ambitious companies to drive success.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
unknown2023-10-18Acquired
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