Air Vehicle Conceptual Design Engineer

Department: Advanced Development

Location: San Diego

Compensation: $150K – $200K • Offers Equity • Offers Bonus

Employment Type: FullTime

About Us:

Collaborative autonomy is how self-tasking teams of machines will solve hard human problems, and HavocAI is an unquestioned leader in collaborative autonomy. We set the standard for autonomous surface vessels for a wide range of defense and commercial maritime missions. Success requires us to grow quickly, and we’re looking for teammates who are passionate about solving hard problems, about pushing the envelope, and about preventing conflict and saving lives. Ambition is welcome to apply within.

About the Role

HavocAI is seeking an Air Vehicle Conceptual Design Engineer to help define the next generation of autonomy-native aircraft.

Unlike traditional aircraft optimized for single-platform performance, these systems are designed to operate as coordinated fleets, where collaboration, communication, and mission adaptability are fundamental design drivers.

In this role, you will explore new aircraft architectures, develop early-stage design concepts, and shape platforms optimized for swarm operations, maritime integration, and distributed autonomy.

This role sits at the intersection of aerospace design, systems thinking, and autonomy-driven platform architecture.

Key Responsibilities

Concept Generation & Aircraft Architecture

• Develop novel aircraft concepts optimized for collaborative autonomy and swarm operations

• Explore unconventional airframe configurations tailored for multi-vehicle mission profiles

• Evaluate tradeoffs between platform performance, autonomy requirements, and fleet-level capability

Early-Stage Design & Modeling

• Produce rapid design iterations through sketches, parametric models, and digital prototypes

• Conduct early aerodynamic and configuration trade studies

• Translate conceptual ideas into technically feasible aircraft architectures

Maritime & Operational Integration

• Design aircraft optimized for maritime launch, recovery, and operational environments

• Incorporate communications architectures designed for mesh-native and distributed autonomy systems

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Work closely with other Engineers and advanced development teams to transition concepts into detailed architectures

• Align aircraft concepts with autonomy, compute, and mission system requirements

Deployment & Logistics Concepts

• Explore launch, recovery, and deployment logistics for autonomous aerial platforms

• Evaluate operational considerations such as transportability, field support, and scalability

Qualifications

• Strong background in aerospace engineering, aircraft design, or related field

• Demonstrated intuition for aircraft conceptual design and configuration tradeoffs

• Ability to move quickly from whiteboard concept to early 3D design models

• Experience contributing to conceptual design or advanced aerospace programs

• Strong systems-thinking mindset with curiosity about distributed systems and multi-agent autonomy

• Portfolio demonstrating creative yet technically feasible aircraft concepts

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with conceptual design tools (OpenVSP, CAD, CFD tools, or similar)

• Background in UAV or experimental aircraft programs

• Familiarity with autonomy-driven system design

• Interest in distributed autonomy, swarm systems, and collaborative vehicle architectures

Success in the First 12 Months

• Development and validation of novel aircraft concepts optimized for collaborative autonomy

• Contribution to the architectural foundation of Havoc’s next-generation aerial platforms

• Successful transition of promising concepts into prototype development pipelines

Benefits:

• 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families

• Life Insurance (Employer Paid)

• Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching)

• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum

• Equity Package

• Work / Home Office Stipend

• Global Entry

• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave

• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

Our Values:

• Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.

• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.

• Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation.

• Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.

• Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care.

• Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact.

HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.