Composites Technician

Location Oxnard Employment Type Full time Location Type On-site Department AircraftManufacturing Compensation $80K – $110K Offers Equity OverviewApplication 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. We're not looking for someone who follows a layup schedule. We're looking for someone who wrote one, questioned it, and made it better. As a Composites Technician, you'll sit at the intersection of materials science and hands-on fabrication, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our engineering team to push the boundaries of what's possible in aircraft manufacturing. What You'll Do Develop and optimize composite manufacturing processes with a sharp eye on material behavior, cure kinetics, and process-structure-property relationshipsFabricate and test advanced aircraft components and tooling using both conventional and novel manufacturing methodsConduct hands-on material characterization including mechanical testing, material property evaluation, and process validationAuthor shop procedures and technical documentation that reflect genuine expertise, not just steps copied from a datasheetPartner with engineers to investigate failures, qualify new materials, and develop first-of-kind processes where the answer isn't always known yetFoster 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 shouldYou think in terms of resin systems, cure cycles, fiber architecture, and void content, not just layup sequencesAs comfortable discussing the chemistry behind a prepreg system as you are running an autoclave or troubleshooting a bonded jointProven ability to take ownership of undefined problems and turn them into documented, repeatable solutionsThrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where structure is built, not givenExperience 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 companyCompetitive base salary commensurate with experienceMedical, dental, vision, and 401kPTO and paid sick leaveMonthly wellness stipendDaily catered lunch (office)Paid parental leaveDirect impact on a critical national security missionA world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problems Compensation Range: $80K - $110K 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. We're not looking for someone who follows a layup schedule. We're looking for someone who wrote one, questioned it, and made it better. As a Composites Technician, you'll sit at the intersection of materials science and hands-on fabrication, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our engineering team to push the boundaries of what's possible in aircraft manufacturing. What You'll Do Develop and optimize composite manufacturing processes with a sharp eye on material behavior, cure kinetics, and process-structure-property relationshipsFabricate and test advanced aircraft components and tooling using both conventional and novel manufacturing methodsConduct hands-on material characterization including mechanical testing, material property evaluation, and process validationAuthor shop procedures and technical documentation that reflect genuine expertise, not just steps copied from a datasheetPartner with engineers to investigate failures, qualify new materials, and develop first-of-kind processes where the answer isn't always known yetFoster 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 shouldYou think in terms of resin systems, cure cycles, fiber architecture, and void content, not just layup sequencesAs comfortable discussing the chemistry behind a prepreg system as you are running an autoclave or troubleshooting a bonded jointProven ability to take ownership of undefined problems and turn them into documented, repeatable solutionsThrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where structure is built, not givenExperience 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 companyCompetitive base salary commensurate with experienceMedical, dental, vision, and 401kPTO and paid sick leaveMonthly wellness stipendDaily catered lunch (office)Paid parental leaveDirect impact on a critical national security missionA world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problems Compensation Range: $80K - $110K 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. We're not looking for someone who follows a layup schedule. We're looking for someone who wrote one, questioned it, and made it better. As a Composites Technician, you'll sit at the intersection of materials science and hands-on fabrication, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our engineering team to push the boundaries of what's possible in aircraft manufacturing. What You'll Do Develop and optimize composite manufacturing processes with a sharp eye on material behavior, cure kinetics, and process-structure-property relationshipsFabricate and test advanced aircraft components and tooling using both conventional and novel manufacturing methodsConduct hands-on material characterization including mechanical testing, material property evaluation, and process validationAuthor shop procedures and technical documentation that reflect genuine expertise, not just steps copied from a datasheetPartner with engineers to investigate failures, qualify new materials, and develop first-of-kind processes where the answer isn't always known yetFoster 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 shouldYou think in terms of resin systems, cure cycles, fiber architecture, and void content, not just layup sequencesAs comfortable discussing the chemistry behind a prepreg system as you are running an autoclave or troubleshooting a bonded jointProven ability to take ownership of undefined problems and turn them into documented, repeatable solutionsThrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where structure is built, not givenExperience 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 companyCompetitive base salary commensurate with experienceMedical, dental, vision, and 401kPTO and paid sick leaveMonthly wellness stipendDaily catered lunch (office)Paid parental leaveDirect impact on a critical national security missionA world-class team of engineers and operators solving genuinely hard problems Compensation Range: $80K - $110K