SPS Lead Mechanical Engineer

Lead Mechanical Engineer - Aerospace Structures BASED IN ADELAIDE – relocation/moving costs provided

Australian Citizenship Required

Are you a stress engineer who’s tired of being just another small cog in a giant aerospace machine? We’re recruiting for a fast-moving aerospace innovator based in Adelaide that is scaling rapidly from prototype to full-rate production. They need a  practical, hands-on Aerospace Structures Engineer  who is ready to step straight into a  Technical Lead / Team Lead  role.

This is  not  a pure desk-and-FEA job. You will be the bridge between the drawing board and the factory floor - guiding a small team of junior engineers, running quick first-principles hand calculations, and walking straight onto the manufacturing floor to solve real fabrication issues on the spot.

The Role

This is a hands-on technical leadership position with genuine ownership. You will act as the Technical Lead for the Structures team, reporting directly to Senior Engineering Management. Your core mission is to make sure every structure is sound, manufacturable, and verified fast - using a smart blend of classic stress analysis, targeted FEA, and real-world shop-floor feedback.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and mentor junior structures engineers: review their work, coach them on best practices, and help them grow quickly.
• Perform rapid “hand calc” verification of designs using classical stress analysis methods to get a reliable 80–90 % answer in minutes rather than waiting days for full FEA runs.
• Own the structural sign-off process: static strength, fatigue, damage tolerance, and buckling checks to relevant aerospace standards.
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with the manufacturing and assembly teams - troubleshoot fit-up problems, material issues, or process deviations on the spot.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability (DFM) improvements so parts are easier and cheaper to build without compromising safety or performance.
• Support test campaigns: correlate analysis models with physical test data (static, fatigue, vibration) and update methods accordingly.
• Participate in daily stand-ups and fast-paced decision-making. This is a high-velocity environment where changes happen weekly, not quarterly.
• Occasionally travel to suppliers or test facilities (minimal - most work is on-site in Adelaide).

Must-have attributes:

• The “Hand Calc” Mindset  - You instinctively reach for pencil-and-paper (or quick Excel/MATLAB) classical methods before firing up the big FEA model. You value speed and engineering judgement.
• Real Aerospace Structures Exposure  - You have worked on aircraft or spacecraft primary/secondary structures. You understand why aerospace parts are designed and built differently from ground vehicles or industrial equipment. Familiarity with DASA, FAR 23/25/27, or equivalent certification requirements is essential.
• Ready to Lead  - You’re comfortable mentoring junior engineers, conducting peer reviews, and representing the structures team in cross-functional meetings.
• Practical & Shop-Floor Comfortable  - You’re happy to put on safety boots and walk the factory floor to resolve issues directly with technicians and machinists.
• Toolset  - Strong working knowledge of classical stress analysis + at least one major FEA package (HyperMesh/OptiStruct, NASTRAN, or ANSYS). Composite experience is a plus but not mandatory.

Nice-to-have (but not essential):

• Experience with composite structures or metallic additive manufacturing.
• Previous involvement in a certification or production ramp-up program.
• Basic project management or task-tracking skills (Jira/Confluence).

The Culture & Working Environment

• 100 % on-site in Adelaide.
• 9-day working fortnight - every second Friday off, giving you a regular 3-day weekend.
• The vibe is fast, slightly chaotic, and genuinely exciting. Decisions are made daily. Bureaucracy is minimal; impact is immediate.
• You’ll have access to senior technical experts for the really tough problems, but you will own the day-to-day workflow and team direction.

Why You Should Apply

• Real impact : Your work will be built, tested, and flown - not just filed away on a server.
• Fast career growth : Step into leadership now while the company is scaling.
• Great lifestyle : Adelaide living + regular 3-day weekends + relocation support.
• Technical mentorship : Senior experts are on hand when you need them, but you get to drive the team.

If this sounds like the role you’ve been waiting for - where you can finally combine deep technical work, leadership, and seeing hardware fly, we want to hear from you.

Australian Citizenship is mandatory  due to security clearance requirements.