Sr. Research and Development Engineer – Prototyping and Flight Testing
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
Involves assembling, modifying, and testing UAV prototypes, requiring skills in mechanical fabrication, flight testing, and collaboration with engineering teams.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Assemble, integrate, and modify prototype UAVs in the workshop, including fabrication, fitting, and repair of airframe components
- Support mechanical fabrication tasks such as composite work, CNC, 3D printing, wiring, soldering, and harness assembly
- Plan and execute flight test campaigns for fixed wing UAVs >25kg, including mission prep, field testing, and pilot operation (manual and autonomous)
- Tune flight parameters (e.g., PID, failsafes, airspeeds) and configure autopilots (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot)
- Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, and GCS teams for rapid problem solving
- Maintain a clean, organized workshop and field ready UAV inventory
- Contribute to SOPs and documentation for integration and test processes
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field
- At least 5 years of experience in UAV prototyping, flight testing, and workshop based fabrication
- Demonstrated experience flying and tuning fixed wing UAVs above 25kg MTOW
- Practical skills in airframe assembly, composite work, soldering, cabling, and mechanical integration
- Familiarity with PX4 and/or ArduPilot, including autopilot tuning and calibration
- Experience with various RC systems and propulsion types (turbojet experience highly desirable)
- Strong safety awareness and risk assessment capability
- Willingness to travel and work in outdoor field environments
Full Job Posting
Role Overview
- As a Research and Development Engineer – Prototyping and Flight Testing, you will be actively involved in the assembly, modification, testing, and flight validation of UAV prototypes.
- This role combines practical workshop based work with flight field operations, ensuring that designs are physically realized, integrated, and flight verified.
Key Responsibilities
- Assemble, integrate, and modify prototype UAVs in the workshop, including fabrication, fitting, and repair of airframe components.
- Support mechanical fabrication tasks such as composite work, CNC, 3D printing, wiring, soldering, and harness assembly.
- Plan and execute flight test campaigns for fixed wing UAVs >25kg, including mission prep, field testing, and pilot operation (manual and autonomous).
- Tune flight parameters (e.g., PID, failsafes, airspeeds) and configure autopilots (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot).
- Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, firmware, and GCS teams for rapid problem solving.
- Maintain a clean, organized workshop and field ready UAV inventory.
- Contribute to SOPs and documentation for integration and test processes.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related technical field.
- At least 5 years of experience in UAV prototyping, flight testing, and workshop based fabrication.
- Demonstrated experience flying and tuning fixed wing UAVs above 25kg MTOW.
- Practical skills in airframe assembly, composite work, soldering, cabling, and mechanical integration.
- Familiarity with PX4 and/or ArduPilot, including autopilot tuning and calibration.
- Experience with various RC systems, different types of propulsion (turbojet experience highly desirable).
- Strong safety awareness and risk assessment capability during workshop and field testing.
- Willingness to travel and work in outdoor field environments for flight test campaigns.
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