Composites Design Engineer (Space Launch New Zealand)

Our Mission: Fly to Space Twice in One Day

At Dawn Aerospace, we're building a space transportation network with the frequency and reliability of aviation. Our Aurora spaceplane programme is developing the world's first rapidly reusable, rocket-powered aircraft capable of routine access to space.

About the Role

We're looking for a Composites Design Engineer to help design the structures that will make this possible. You'll see your work move rapidly from concept to manufacture, test and flight, working alongside a highly capable team building one of the world's most ambitious aerospace programmes.

What You'll Do

• Design primary and secondary composite airframe structures, including fuselage, wings, control surfaces and internal support structures
• Develop laminate schedules, manufacturing drawings, tooling concepts, assembly fixtures and engineering documentation
• Perform structural sizing, trade studies and design optimisation using analytical and numerical methods
• Work closely with manufacturing, test and flight operations teams to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable and robust
• Support structural testing, qualification activities and flight campaigns
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, systems, avionics and propulsion engineers to deliver integrated vehicle solutions
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering processes, methodologies and standards

Your Capabilities

• A degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or a related field
• At least 3 years of professional experience designing composite structures within aerospace, aviation, motorsport or another high-performance engineering environment
• Strong understanding of composite materials, laminate theory and manufacturing processes
• Experience using CAD software such as CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks or similar
• Experience producing detailed engineering drawings and managing design releases
• Experience working with suppliers and external manufacturing partners
• Experience operating in a rapid development, prototype or experimental environment

Bonus Points For

• Experience with aerospace certification, qualification or flight-test programmes
• Experience using FEA tools for structural analysis of composite structures
• Hands-on composites manufacturing, tooling or build experience
• Experience developing flight hardware

Why Join Dawn?

• Design hardware that flies
• Work on one of the world's most advanced spaceplane programmes
• See designs move rapidly from concept to flight
• Collaborate with an exceptional multidisciplinary engineering team

About Dawn Aerospace

Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company with a purpose, focused on in-space propulsion, in-space servicing, and the spaceplane programme — developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway. Our international teams are distributed across the Netherlands, France, New Zealand, and the USA.