Mechanical Design Engineer

About Nordic Air Defence

Nordic Air Defence is a Swedish defence-tech company pioneering cost-effective, solutions for modern aerial security. Our first products are based on the Kreuger, battery powered, drone interceptor platform. It is designed to counter evolving UAS threats with unmatched speed and agility at a fraction of the cost of current systems. Nordic Air Defence is, at its core, a mission drive company—developing solutions to safeguard democratic values and societal stability. This is a chance to play a key role in a fast-growing team while tackling one of our times existential challenges.

The Role

We're looking for a Mechanical Engineer to join our fast-paced prototyping and development team. You will be designing, building and iterating on airframes, launchers and other components for our kinetic interceptor drones. This is a hands-on role—ideal for someone who's taken prototypes from napkin sketch to real-world flight and is comfortable working across CAD, physical tooling, and iterative testing environments.

Responsibilities

• Structural & Mechanical Design and Modeling: Design of the mechanical systems and airframe structures for high-speed UAVs with a solid understanding of load paths, structural weight optimization and experience integrating flight control actuated systems.
• FEA & CFD Simulation: Designing based on feedback from finite element analysis (structural, modal, thermal) and computational fluid dynamics to validate prepared solutions, predict performance under high-speed conditions, and inform material or geometry choices.
• Design Iteration & Optimization: Design based on test results analysis, identification of the failure modes or performance gaps, and implementation of rapid design improvements — balancing stiffness, strength, and weight for UAV applications.
• CAD Proficiency: Work in creating and managing CAD models using SolidWorks, Siemens NX, or equivalent; maintain part material properties, manage assembly configuration control and maintain a buildup mass model.
• Technical Documentation & Standards Compliance: Producing clear engineering documentation — requirements trackability, bills of materials, test procedures, and assembly instructions—while ensuring designs adhere to aerospace standards (e.g., ASTM, MIL-STD).
• Prototyping & Development: Hands-on approach to support full-cycle development of mechanical components — from concept sketches through rapid prototyping (3D printing, CNC machining, composites) to functional testing — incorporating iterative feedback.
• Materials & Manufacturing Knowledge: Connecting a deep understanding of aerospace-grade materials (aluminum alloys, carbon fiber composites, high-temperature polymers) with manufacturing needs and the ability to specify appropriate materials to meet strength, stiffness, and environmental requirements.
• Manufacturing Technologies: Usage of additive manufacturing (FDM, SLS, SLA), CNC machining processes (milling, turning), and composite tooling designs, fixtures and fabrication techniques (layup, curing).
• Systems Integration & Collaboration: Close cooperation with aerodynamics, software, electronics, and flight-control teams — ensuring mechanical designs accommodate wiring, sensors, actuators, and avionics integration.
• Participating in and support flight tests, system integration, and field troubleshooting.

Requirements (Required)

• Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering (BSc required, MSc preferred).
• CAD Proficiency in at least one major CAD design tool (e.g. SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Catia, AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion360).
• Systems Engineering & Requirements Traceability: Demonstrated ability to develop, manage, and maintain requirements, ensuring full traceability from customer needs through design, verification, and validation within a model-based systems engineering framework.
• Technical Drawings & Specifications: Experience preparing detailed engineering drawings and specification sheets to support manufacturing, procurement, and quality assurance processes.
• Prototyping Expertise: Experience in hands-on prototyping, including rapid fabrication, iterative testing, and design refinement to accelerate development cycles. Experience in prototyping drones, rockets, vehicles, or other specialized systems is considered a plus.
• FEA Tools Proficiency: Experience using FEA software such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, Abaqus, or SolidWorks Simulation
• Manufacturing Processes Knowledge: Knowledge of 3D printing, CNC milling and turning, and composite tooling and fixtures for effective prototyping and production.
• Low-Rate Initial Production Manufacturing: Experience developing and managing manufacturing processes for low-rate initial production, including vendor qualification, process documentation, assembly line setup, and quality-control procedures.
• Trade Study & Optimization: Capability to conduct multidisciplinary trade studies (airframe versus propulsion), perform aerodynamic/structural optimization under mission constraints, and translate findings into actionable design requirements.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Strong communication and teamwork skills to interface effectively with aerodynamics, avionics, and control-systems engineers—ensuring aerodynamic, structural, and systems decisions remain aligned throughout development.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.
• Future eligibility for NATO security clearance.

Desirements (Nice-to-have)

• Experience with UAV or RC aircraft design.
• Portfolio of designs that you have worked on.
• Experience working with PDM/PLM systems.
• Aerospace/defence domain experience.