Imagine this, you own the mechanical backbone of an exo-atmospheric interceptor, from its structure and internal layout to the way it survives the loads and environment of flight.Bliksem Exo is a four-nation European consortium developing an anti-ballistic missile system at operational pace. Destinus is the programme prime and responsible for the exo-atmospheric interceptor, engineered for affordability and production at scale.In this role, you will take the vehicle from CAD to real, testable hardware. You will own the mechanical design, structural analysis, packaging, and test campaign, using real test data to validate assumptions and continuously improve the vehicle baseline. This is a hands-on position within a small, specialized team where you will design, build or procure, test, and understand the results.At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.What You'll DoOwn the mechanical design, producing and maintaining CAD for the structure and vehicle layout while managing subsystem packaging, mass, and centre-of-gravity constraintsPerform structural and stiffness analysis using hand calculations and FEA for flight loads, storage, handling, and environmental conditionsOwn mechanical and thermal integration at vehicle level, coordinating interfaces with the specialists responsible for individual subsystemsPlan and execute structural, vibration, and environmental test campaigns, including test articles, fixtures, procedures, and resultsAnalyse test data, correlate results against structural models and requirements, and feed findings directly back into the designManage mechanical suppliers, drawings, tolerances, manufacturing requirements, and externally produced componentsWho You AreYou are a hands-on engineer who wants ownership from CAD through hardware and testingYou are comfortable making engineering decisions when mass, space, performance, and schedule are all constrainedYou use analysis to guide the design and testing to prove itYou thrive in a small, highly technical team where speed, ownership, and sound engineering judgement matterRequirementsBSc, MSc, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field10+ years of experience in mechanical or structural design of flight hardware such as missiles, spacecraft, aircraft, or comparable high-performance systemsStrong hands-on CAD experience with SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar toolsStrong structural analysis capability, including hand calculations and FEAPractical experience planning and running structural, vibration, or environmental tests and interpreting the resulting dataExperience designing highly constrained systems around mass, packaging, structural, and centre-of-gravity requirements
Imagine this, you own the mechanical backbone of an exo-atmospheric interceptor, from its structure and internal layout to the way it survives the loads and environment of flight.
Bliksem Exo is a four-nation European consortium developing an anti-ballistic missile system at operational pace. Destinus is the programme prime and responsible for the exo-atmospheric interceptor, engineered for affordability and production at scale.
In this role, you will take the vehicle from CAD to real, testable hardware. You will own the mechanical design, structural analysis, packaging, and test campaign, using real test data to validate assumptions and continuously improve the vehicle baseline. This is a hands-on position within a small, specialized team where you will design, build or procure, test, and understand the results.
At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.
What You'll Do
- Own the mechanical design, producing and maintaining CAD for the structure and vehicle layout while managing subsystem packaging, mass, and centre-of-gravity constraints
- Perform structural and stiffness analysis using hand calculations and FEA for flight loads, storage, handling, and environmental conditions
- Own mechanical and thermal integration at vehicle level, coordinating interfaces with the specialists responsible for individual subsystems
- Plan and execute structural, vibration, and environmental test campaigns, including test articles, fixtures, procedures, and results
- Analyse test data, correlate results against structural models and requirements, and feed findings directly back into the design
- Manage mechanical suppliers, drawings, tolerances, manufacturing requirements, and externally produced components
Who You Are
- You are a hands-on engineer who wants ownership from CAD through hardware and testing
- You are comfortable making engineering decisions when mass, space, performance, and schedule are all constrained
- You use analysis to guide the design and testing to prove it
- You thrive in a small, highly technical team where speed, ownership, and sound engineering judgement matter
Requirements
- BSc, MSc, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
- 10+ years of experience in mechanical or structural design of flight hardware such as missiles, spacecraft, aircraft, or comparable high-performance systems
- Strong hands-on CAD experience with SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar tools
- Strong structural analysis capability, including hand calculations and FEA
- Practical experience planning and running structural, vibration, or environmental tests and interpreting the resulting data
- Experience designing highly constrained systems around mass, packaging, structural, and centre-of-gravity requirements
Destinus is a European defence manufacturer built for the age of mass-produced threats. We design and produce modern strike and air defence systems in Europe for European and allied forces. We develop and manufacture cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and kinetic interceptors engineered for scalable, cost-asymmetric high-intensity warfare. Our edge is the combination of a unified autonomy stack, deep vertical integration, and industrial-scale manufacturing that enables fast iteration to become a fielded capability. At industrial tempo. Our mission is straightforward: strengthen Europe's security and strategic autonomy by delivering advanced, affordable systems that protect people and critical infrastructure.Our vision is for a secure Europe built on autonomy, scale, and industrial strength.
Destinus is a European defence manufacturer built for the age of mass-produced threats. We design and produce modern strike and air defence systems in Europe for European and allied forces. We develop and manufacture cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and kinetic interceptors engineered for scalable, cost-asymmetric high-intensity warfare. Our edge is the combination of a unified autonomy stack, deep vertical integration, and industrial-scale manufacturing that enables fast iteration to become a fielded capability. At industrial tempo.
Our mission is straightforward: strengthen Europe's security and strategic autonomy by delivering advanced, affordable systems that protect people and critical infrastructure.
Our vision is for a secure Europe built on autonomy, scale, and industrial strength.
