Senior Mechanical Design Engineer | Aerospace & Autonomous Systems

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer | Aerospace & Autonomous Systems At WingXpand®Locations:Chicago (Schaumburg), IL‍Type:Full-time | Open 6/29/26 | Close 7/13/26About WingXpandWingXpand is Expanding What’s Possible™ with Autonomous Systems, building long-endurance, backpackable smart plane drones and robotics systems that support defense, public safety, disaster response, and commercial missions. Our platforms operate across air, ground, and maritime domains, integrating autonomy, AI-powered sensing, edge computing, and networked systems to deliver real-world intelligence and threat detection. We design, build, and deploy complete systems — hardware, software, and data — and we move fast. As WingXpand scales, we are seeking high performers to grow with our team.Position DescriptionWingXpand is building the future of autonomous systems. We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to help invent, design, and build the aircraft and mechanical systems behind our next generation robotic platforms. This is a hands on engineering role for builders who want to own meaningful work, solve difficult problems, and see their designs fly. You will lead the design of robotic structures, mechanisms, payload integrations, and production hardware that directly shape the performance of our systems. You will work alongside exceptional aerospace, robotics, software, electrical, and manufacturing engineers to rapidly turn ideas into flight ready products through design, prototyping, testing, and continuous iteration. This is a place for engineers who thrive on ownership, move with urgency, embrace ambitious challenges, and care deeply about building products that support those protecting and serving others. If you are looking a standard corporate job, this is not the role for you. If you want to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside other high performers, we would love to meet you.Key Responsibilities:Design and develop robotic structures and mechanical systems for WingXpand's autonomous platformsDesign lightweight airframes, mechanisms, payload integrations, and electromechanical assembliesDevelop robust, manufacturable designs using composites, metals, plastics, and additive manufacturingCreate production ready CAD models, engineering drawings, and manufacturing documentationPerform structural analysis, tolerance analysis, and engineering trade studiesPrototype, assemble, test, and validate hardware through laboratory and flight testingCollaborate closely with aerospace, robotics, electrical, software, and manufacturing engineersRapidly troubleshoot, improve, and optimize mechanical designs through testing and field feedbackDrive engineering decisions from concept through productionHelp shape the next generation of WingXpand products Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field7+ years of professional experience designing complex mechanical or aerospace systemsExpertise with SolidWorks or equivalent professional CAD softwareExperience designing products from concept through prototype, testing, and productionStrong understanding of manufacturing processes, mechanical design, GD&T, and engineering fundamentalsComfortable building, testing, troubleshooting, and improving physical hardwareSelf motivated with a bias for action and a willingness to own challenging technical problems Additional qualifications:Master's degree in a relevant fieldExperience designing UAV, aerospace, robotics, or autonomous systemsExperience with composite structures and lightweight designExperience with finite element analysisExperience designing for CNC machining, additive manufacturing, injection molding, or sheet metal fabricationExperience supporting production and manufacturingExperience participating in flight testing or field operationsWhat Else You Need to KnowTo conform to U.S. Government aerospace technology export regulations, applicant must be a 'U.S. Person' (U.S. Citizen or a...