Sr. Research and Development Engineer – Prototyping and Flight Testing

Confidential Company

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 workshopbased 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 f ield testing.

• Willingness to travel and work in outdoor field environments for flight test campaigns.