Lead UAS Systems Engineer

The Lead UAS Systems Engineer provides technical leadership for the development of high-performance multirotor platforms ranging from FPV-class systems to advanced commercial and tactical unmanned aircraft. This role owns the overall system architecture and leads cross-functional engineering teams through concept development, prototyping, verification, validation, and transition to full-rate production, ensuring products are high-performing, reliable, manufacturable, and mission-ready.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of advanced UAS platforms from concept through production, ensuring technical excellence, manufacturability, and successful product launch.
• Lead a multidisciplinary engineering team of approximately 10–30 engineers.
• Drive rapid prototyping, system optimization, and data-driven performance improvements across airframe, propulsion, flight dynamics, and RF systems.
• Oversee testing, validation, and risk management to deliver reliable, production-ready products that meet performance and quality targets.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Product Management, Software, and Engineering teams to ensure seamless transition to production, supplier readiness, and continuous product improvement while balancing innovation, schedule, and technical risk.

What Success Looks Like

• Deliver production-ready UAS platforms that achieve performance, reliability, and manufacturability targets.
• Drive rapid engineering iteration and efficient transition from prototype to scalable manufacturing.
• Build and lead a high-performing engineering team while maintaining strong product quality and low field failure rates.

Requirements

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field, with 5+ years of experience developing multirotor UAS/UAV platforms from prototype through production.
• Proven expertise in UAS systems engineering, including flight dynamics, vehicle architecture, propulsion, avionics, RF communications, embedded systems integration, mechanical design, vibration management, flight testing, and product validation.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, driving technical roadmaps, and delivering complex aerospace or defense products through technical leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience with commercial, industrial, or tactical UAS platforms; familiarity with PX4, ArduPilot, Betaflight, or custom flight-control systems is preferred. Experience in high-volume manufacturing and the aerospace, robotics, or defense industry is highly desirable.