Aircraft Design Engineer (All Genders)

Germany

At Stark, we forge the future of European and national security through cutting-edge, AI-driven technology and unmatched engineering precision. As a premier defence technology company, our mission is clear: to equip NATO Allies and their partners with next-generation autonomous defence platforms and advanced AI-driven software built to perform in the worlds most demanding environments.

We believe that true security stems from relentless innovation. By combining elite engineering talent with agile technology and an AI-native operational culture, Stark turns complex defence challenges into field-tested, multi-domain solutions.

WHY JOIN US

• The software and systems you work on directly protect personnel and defend European and national sovereignty.
• You will work alongside industry-leading minds on autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and secure cyber platforms.
• We foster a fast-paced, collaborative environment where bold ideas are supported by serious R&D backing.

ABOUT THE TEAM

You will join our multidisciplinary Future concept team, responsible for shaping the physical platforms that define STARKs autonomous fleet. As generalists in a fast-paced environment, our team thrives on a hands-on design, build, and test philosophy to turn complex concepts into operational systems quickly. Within this group, Overall Aircraft Design (OAD) serves as the central integration layer, defining top-level layout, performance targets, and vehicle viability without getting bogged down in individual component design. We foster a collaborative, highly iterative working style where engineering trade-offs are evaluated holistically to optimize aircraft performance.

YOUR MISSION

As a Junior or Mid-level Aircraft Design Engineer, you will own the top-level layout, aerodynamic sizing, and performance viability of our next-generation autonomous flight platforms. You will bridge technical domains by evaluating design trade-offs, tracking weight envelopes, and managing energy budgets across the vehicle. In this role, you enable STARK to deliver highly optimized, mission-ready unmanned systems by bringing concepts rapidly from initial setup through physical flight testing.

WHAT YOU WILL DO AT STARK

• Define the external shape, aerodynamic profile, and overall dimensions to establish master geometry and vehicle configurations.
• Establish Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) baselines and maintain rigorous tracking of the Center of Gravity (CoG) envelope throughout the design lifecycle.
• Calculate payload-range performance metrics, manage system energy budgets, and evaluate operational flight loads.
• Conduct multidisciplinary trade-off optimizations during design stages to balance conflicting requirements such as aerodynamic efficiency versus structural mass.
• Evaluate top-level aircraft layout viability and operational trade-offs rather than focusing on detailed component design.
• Participate directly in hands-on design, rapid prototyping, and flight-testing activities for emerging unmanned platform concepts.
• Collaborate with subsystem engineering leads across structures, aerodynamics, and flight controls to align system-level requirements.
• Perform rapid conceptual sizing and trade studies to quickly adapt vehicle configurations to changing mission profiles.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE MISSION

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong foundational knowledge in aircraft sizing, weight estimation, center of gravity tracking, and flight performance.
• Hands-on mindset with strong passion and drive to design, build, and test physical aircraft hardware.
• Versatile generalist approach with the ability and curiosity to tackle a wide variety of engineering challenges.
• Solid understanding of aerodynamic profiles, top-level vehicle geometry, and trade-off optimization.
• Fluency in English with strong written and verbal technical communication skills.

NICE TO HAVE

• Prior hands-on experience with unmanned aerial systems (UAS/drones) or student aerospace initiatives (e.g., Design/Build/Fly, Air Cargo Challenge).
• Familiarity with conceptual aircraft sizing tools and CAD software for surface modeling and master geometry.
• Exposure to basic load analysis, propulsion matching, or flight dynamics testing.
• If youre interested in building the future of European Defence with us, and you see yourself reflected on the description above, please send us your CV in English. We´re looking forward to meeting you!
• If youre interested in building the future of European Defence with us, and you see yourself reflected on the description above, please send us your CV in English. Were looking forward to meeting you!

SECURITY CLEARANCE

Due to the nature of our work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance required for this position. Details will be provided during the recruitment process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

DATA PRIVACY STATEMENT

This data privacy statement, which refers exclusively to data collected as part of the online application process, is to inform you about how your personal data that is collected as part of the online application process is handled at our end.

The controller

The controller under data protection law is:

SKD SE

• Französische Strasse 12, 10117 Berlin
• Commercial register entry number: HRB 260878

Registration Court: Amtsgericht Charlottenburg

Data Protection officer: heyData GmbH, Schützenstraße 5, 10117 Berlin, www.heydata.eu , datenschutz@heydata.eu

Personal data collected as part of the application process

Personal data means any information concerning the personal or material circumstances of an identified or identifiable individual. This includes information such as, for example, your name, address, telephone number and date of birth, but also data relating to your specific career etc. by reference to which a specific individual can be identified with reasonable effort. However, information which cannot be (in)directly associated with your real-life identity is not personal data.

Fundamentals and purposes of processing personal data collected from application documents and during the application process

If you apply to us electronically, i.e. via e-mail or using our online form, we will collect and process your personal data for the purpose of executing the application process and preparing contracts.

By submitting an application via our recruitment website, you express your interest in taking up work with us. In this context, you transmit personal data, which we will use and store exclusively for the purpose of your job search / application process.

In particular, the following data is collected during this process:

name (first and last names)

• e-mail address
• phone number
• LinkedIn profile (optional)

channel through which you found us

Furthermore, you can choose to upload expressive documents such as a cover letter, your CV and reference letters. These may contain additional personal data such as date of birth, address etc.

Only authorized HR staff and/or staff involved in the application process have access to your data.

The personal data is stored, as a rule, exclusively for the purpose of filling the vacancy for which you have applied.

Your data will be stored for a period of 180 days after the application process has been concluded. This is usually done to fulfill legal requirements and/or defending ourselves against any claims arising from legal provisions. After this period, we are obligated to delete or anonymize your data. In case of anonymization, the data will only be available to us in the form of so-called metadata, without any direct personal reference, for statistical analysis (for example, share of male and/or female applicants, number of applications per specified period of time etc.).

Furthermore, we reserve the right to store your data for 180 days after the application process has been concluded for the purpose of adding it to our Talent Pool in order to identify any other vacancies that may be of interest to you. This includes, for example, applications for apprenticeships or internships. By accepting the data privacy statement, you consent to any further storage of your data as well as its inclusion in our Talent Pool.

Should you be offered and accept a position with us during the application process, we will store the personal data collected as part of the application process for at least the duration of your employment.

Disclosure of data to third parties

Data transmitted as part of your application will be transferred using TLS encryption and stored in a database. This database is operated by Greenhouse, which offers a human resource and applicant management software solution (https://www.greenhouse.com/data-processing-addendum). In this context, Greenhouse is our processor under article 28 of the GDPR. In this case, the processing is based on an agreement for the processing of orders between us as the controller and Greenhouse.

Rights of data subjects

If we as the controller process personal data, you as the data subject have certain rights under Chapter III of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), depending on the legal basis and the purpose of the processing, in particular the right of access (article 15 of the GDPR) and the rights to rectification (article 16 of the GDPR), erasure (article 17 of the GDPR), restriction of processing (article 18 of the GDPR), and data portability (article 20 of the GDPR), as well as the right to object (article 21 of the GDPR). If the personal data is processed