--- title: 'Structural Engineer UAV H/F at Alta Ares' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/structural-engineer-uav-h-f-alta-ares-toulouse-e0wecwdhef8d' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Structural Engineer UAV H/F at Alta Ares - **Company:** Alta Ares - **Location:** Toulouse, France - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-27 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/alta-ares/37e0df0f-a39d-49c6-80b4-04d127a82a43 ## Job description ## ABOUT ALTA ARES Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them. Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development. ROLE & Missions: ## STRUCTURAL DESIGN & ANALYSIS - Design and analyze the primary and secondary composite structures of our interceptor airframes (fuselage, wings/control surfaces, internal load-bearing components) - Perform structural and stress analysis combining hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA) to justify margins under static, dynamic, and high-acceleration loads - Define and document load paths, free-body diagrams, and failure modes for all major structural elements - Own composite laminate design, layup schedules, and bonding/joining strategies for carbon fiber structures ## WEIGHT & PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION - Aggressively optimize structural weight without compromising strength, given the platform's speed and maneuverability requirements - Work with Aerodynamics and Propulsion teams to balance structural mass, CG, and vibration constraints against flight performance targets - Evaluate design trade-offs between composite and metallic/CNC solutions where each makes sense ## TESTING & VALIDATION - Support structural, vibration, shock, and environmental qualification testing of airframe components and subassemblies - Analyze test and flight data to identify failure modes, including: - Fatigue and fracture - CG shifts - Vibration-induced damage - Support fast structural repairs and troubleshooting during flight test campaigns ## MANUFACTURABILITY & PRODUCTION - Work directly with manufacturing partners and internal fabrication teams to ensure designs are manufacturable, repeatable, and cost-effective at scale - Get hands-on with composite fabrication and bonding to understand how parts are actually built, not just how they're modeled - Support the transition of airframe structures from prototype to serial production ## CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION - Work closely with Aerodynamics, Propulsion, and Manufacturing engineers to resolve cross-disciplinary design conflicts - Communicate structural decisions and analysis clearly to non-structural stakeholders - Contribute to design reviews and structural documentation standards as the team scales ## CANDIDATE PROFILE - 3+ years’ experience in aerospace or aircraft structural engineering, ideally including UAV/drone platforms - Demonstrated experience analysing and sizing airframe structures for aerodynamic, manoeuvre, propulsion, and inertial loads, with the ability to interpret, validate, and apply aircraft aerodynamic load cases - Proficiency in finite element analysis (FEA) for static strength, stiffness, buckling and vibration modelling - Strong CAD capability (e.g. CATIA, SolidWorks, Autodesk or comparable tools), with the ability to support detailed design and internal component integration - Familiarity with UAV/drone specific integration challenges, including payloads, batteries, avionics, propulsion mounting, and practical field repairability, would be a strong advantage - Experience designing lightweight carbon-fibre composite structures, including laminate design and sandwich panels and knowledge of composite manufacturing methods and processes - Experience designing parts for polymer 3D printed components, with a practical understanding of print orientation and load paths - Ability to perform hand calculations and correlate analytical results with FEA and structural test data - Strong communication and multidisciplinary collaboration skills across aerodynamics, systems and manufacturing teams - Experience with aeroelasticity analysis, including flutter, divergence, structural deflection, and vibration assessment, would be a strong advantage ## About Alta Ares ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Alta Ares builds an autonomous AI stack for next-generation air defense, ISTAR, and mission management, delivering counter-drone systems and edge intelligence to allied militaries. - **Entity Type**: Private (raised pre-seed and seed rounds; most recent €50M funding announced June 2026) - **Headquarters**: Paris, France (strategic offices in Toulouse, Kyiv, Abu Dhabi, New York, Athens, Munich, and London) - **Founded**: 2024 - **Founders**: Hadrien C. (CEO), Alain H. (Co-Founder), Stanislas W. (Co-Founder & COO) – per LinkedIn executive data ## Core Business - **Industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing; AI-powered autonomous systems - **Target Customers**: Allied governments and armed forces (B2B/B2G) - **Mission**: “The next decade of allied security will be decided by who controls the autonomous systems above the battlefield. Alta Ares was founded to help ensure that the technologies shaping the future of defense are developed by allies, for allies, and fielded where they can make the greatest difference.” [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/) ## Products & Services - **Black Bird**: Short- to mid-range multirotor autonomous interceptor for counter-drone swarms, with AI terminal guidance under jamming. - **X-LOCK**: Mid- to long-range turbojet-powered fixed-wing effector for high-speed interception of drones and glide bombs; optional strike configuration. - **Cyclops**: Sensor intelligence, mission planning, and flight monitoring system for UAVs – connects radars, classifies tracks, predicts trajectories. - **Gamma ISTAR**: Real-time video intelligence on the edge for Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Includes Gamma Core (software deployable on any infrastructure) and Gamma Box (tactical rugged hardware node). Integrated with Gamma Ulixes MLOps platform for continuous model retraining. - **Pixel Lock**: Software system for detecting, tracking, and guiding interceptors toward moving aerial targets. Acts as visual aid for pilots and as automatic guidance in GNSS-denied environments. - **Mission Management Layer**: Unified platform combining air defense effectors, ISTAR products, and mission management software for autonomous operations. [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/) ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total known funding ≈ €50M+ (includes a reported June 2026 round led by top-tier AI and defense investors) [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/); earlier pre-seed ($2.2M) and seed ($2.0M) rounds confirmed on LinkedIn [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Airbus Defence and Space (signed MoU to co-develop European counter-drone solutions, June 2026); Expansion Ventures (led pre-seed). Other investors not yet named publicly. - **Growth Signals**: - Completed live Arctic trials of Black Bird interceptor with Estonian Defence Forces (Feb 2026) - Expanding to Munich and London in 2026 - Rapid hiring: 19+ active job postings (LinkedIn), 12 listed on Built In - LinkedIn followers: 11,265 (+15.8% monthly growth) - Team: ~43 employees (LinkedIn) to 62 (Built In), with strong technical talent from defense and aerospace (Armée de Terre, Safran AI, Loft Orbital) [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/alta-ares) | [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares) ## Competitive Advantages - **Sovereign European stack**: Entire AI and hardware chain developed by European allies, ensuring security and compliance for NATO and allied customers. - **GNSS-denied operations**: All systems designed to function under jamming and contested environments. - **Rapid field deployment**: Systems can be deployed by small teams in the field, reducing logistics footprint. - **Full-stack integration**: One platform combining effectors, ISR, and mission management with edge AI and continuous MLOps. ## Strategic Focus - Scale manufacturing and deployment of Black Bird, X-LOCK, and Gamma products to meet growing demand from allied nations. - Deepen integration partnership with Airbus Defence and Space for European counter-drone solutions. - Expand international presence (Munich, London offices in 2026) and grow sales in Baltic, Indo-Pacific, and Middle Eastern markets. - Continue investment in AI terminal guidance, sensor fusion, and sovereign MLOps (Gamma Ulixes). ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven**: Directly contribute to European and allied defense autonomy in a critical domain. - **Cutting-edge tech**: Work on AI, computer vision, autonomous flight, edge computing, and defense-grade hardware. - **Rapid growth**: Company raised €50M in 2026, tripling headcount timeline; many open engineering and operations roles. - **Culture**: Described as a “deeptech startup” with a hybrid workspace (combination of remote and on-site); main offices in Paris and Toulouse, plus international hubs. - **Perks**: Not detailed publicly, but typical for defense tech includes competitive compensation, equity, and mission-critical work. Engineering culture emphasized in job postings. - **Ideal for**: Engineers (embedded, robotics, GNC, data, ML), test pilots, production managers, defense sales, compliance, and talent acquisition specialists. ## Sources 1. [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/) 2. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/alta-ares) 3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares) 4. [jobs.workable.com](https://jobs.workable.com/company/dTjqj5nvsJLNhfSDY12XbG/jobs-at-alta-ares) 5. [thecompanycheck.com](https://www.thecompanycheck.com/company/b/alta-ares/l5u43z56vx1ldmfss) ## Other roles at Alta Ares - [DevOps Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/devops-intern-alta-ares-paris-ys5qhbgdkt12) — Paris, France - [Pyrotechnics Engineer H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/pyrotechnics-engineer-h-f-alta-ares-toulouse-fq3aa627wfxr) — Toulouse, France - [Logistics Manager H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/logistics-manager-h-f-alta-ares-paris-jq0ba72knsyk) — Paris, France - [Software Engineer — VIE USA](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-vie-usa-alta-ares-new-york-tzvjqnfbydhe) — New York, NY - [Business Development Representative — VIE Germany](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-vie-germany-alta-ares-munich-9y82690ehp52) — Munich, Germany - [Business Development Representative — VIE Abu Dhabi](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-vie-abu-dhabi-alta-ares-middle-east-and-qksmpxad2e7g) — Middle East and Africa - [Business Development Representative — VIE Japon](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-vie-japon-alta-ares-tokyo-xd296meqgnya) — Tokyo, Japan / Nagoya, Japan - [Legal Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/legal-intern-alta-ares-paris-ew8j518ja616) — Paris, France - [Legal & IP Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/legal-ip-counsel-alta-ares-paris-7x18kmg7kddd) — Paris, France - [Junior Payroll Specialist H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/junior-payroll-specialist-h-f-alta-ares-paris-4jmkpt5nvksn) — Paris, France