Structures Design Engineer (Inflatables/Softgoods)

Remote Robotic; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation

Job summary

Remote Robotic Systems is seeking a Structures Design Engineer to lead the design of inflatable floating landing pads for drones. You will own the pressure structure from concept through prototype testing and field deployment, ensuring durability, load management, and manufacturability.

You will collaborate closely with fabrication, testing, and multidisciplinary teams in Kanata, Ontario, to iterate designs based on real-world data and prototypes in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field.
• Experience with inflatable or pressurized soft structures.
• Familiarity with RF welding or related joining methods.
• Experience with structural testing programs.

Responsibilities

• Design inflatable platform as a pressure structure from concept through production-ready design.
• Design structural components: deck, floats, frame, seams, bonds, internal support architecture.
• Define pressure targets, safety factors, burst margins, durability requirements.
• Develop and execute structural testing programs; define test plans and acceptance criteria.
• Work with fabrication to ensure manufacturability; integrate sensors and drone interface hardware.

Skills

Structural design

Hands-on engineering

CAD (SolidWorks)

Materials understanding

Testing & validation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

RF welding / heat sealing

Job description

About Remote Robotic Systems

Help build the next generation of autonomous systems operating at the intersection of robotics, aerospace, and defence technology.

Remote Robotic Systems (RRS) is a Canadian robotics and defence-tech company helping organizations deploy enterprise-grade drones, uncrewed aircraft, robotic platforms, sensors, payloads, and remote operations technologies for mission-critical applications. Our solutions support customers across defence, public safety, security, industrial, infrastructure, energy, and government sectors.

Through our Airmetal team, we are developing innovative technologies that support autonomous operations in challenging environments. One of those initiatives is the development of inflatable floating landing platforms for drones, designed to operate reliably in real-world conditions and support the next generation of autonomous missions.

We're a small, fast-moving engineering team that values ownership, technical depth, practical problem solving, and the ability to turn ambitious ideas into working hardware.

The Role

Airmetal is looking for a Structures Design Engineer to lead the design and development of inflatable floating landing pads for drones.

This role is focused on the structure itself: the pressure envelope, seams, bonds, hard points, internal architecture, and testing programs that bring the platform to life. You'll own the structural design from concept through prototype testing and field deployment, ensuring the platform can hold pressure, manage loads, survive repeated drone landings, and be manufactured reliably.

You'll work closely with a Fabrication Specialist in a highly hands-on environment where design, manufacturing, and testing are closely connected. This is not a design-from-a-distance role. You'll spend time reviewing prototypes, supporting fabrication, conducting testing, and using real-world data to improve each iteration.

We're looking for someone with strong engineering fundamentals, a builder's mindset, and a passion for solving unconventional structural challenges.

What You Will Work On

Structure Design

• Own the inflatable platform as a pressure structure from concept through production-ready design.
• Design structural components including the deck, floats, frame, seams, bonds, reinforcements, and internal support architecture.
• Select appropriate fabrics, coatings, materials, and reinforcements based on structural and operational requirements.
• Engineer hard points that transfer drone landing, mounting, and payload loads into soft structures.
• Define pressure targets, safety factors, burst margins, creep behaviour, and durability requirements.

Testing & Validation

• Develop and execute structural testing programs.
• Define test plans, specifications, tolerances, and acceptance criteria.
• Conduct and evaluate seam, bond, burst, leak-down, fatigue, and durability testing.
• Analyze performance data and use results to improve future designs.
• Support field deployment, on-water testing, and operational validation activities.

Manufacturing Integration

• Work closely with fabrication personnel to ensure designs are practical and manufacturable.
• Design assemblies suitable for RF welding, heat sealing, hot-air welding, and related joining processes.
• Support prototype builds, design reviews, and manufacturing improvements.
• Integrate sensors, power systems, and drone interface hardware onto flexible structures.
• Help establish design standards, documentation, and testing procedures as the program matures.

Core Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience designing pressurized soft structures, inflatable structures, tensioned systems, technical textiles, soft goods, or related products.
• Strong understanding of coated fabrics, technical textiles, and material behaviour under pressure and load.
• Familiarity with fabric joining technologies such as RF welding, heat sealing, hot-air welding, or similar manufacturing methods.
• Experience developing, executing, and interpreting structural testing and validation programs.
• Hands-on engineering approach with the ability to move between design, manufacturing, and testing activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced R&D environment where prototypes and designs evolve quickly.
• Able to work on-site in Kanata, Ontario.

Nice to Have

• Experience in inflatable products, aerospace inflatables, soft robotics, technical textiles, marine systems, sailmaking, or tensioned structures.
• Experience with drones, UAVs, or autonomous systems.
• Experience with composites, coated fabrics, films, or advanced materials.
• Familiarity with structural analysis, pressure vessel concepts, fatigue analysis, or durability testing.
• Experience with marine environments, weather exposure, or outdoor equipment.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks.
• P.Eng. designation or eligibility for licensure in Ontario.

What Will Make You Successful

• You enjoy solving unconventional structural problems.
• You trust testing and measured performance over assumptions.
• You are equally comfortable in CAD, in the shop, and in the field.
• You can translate engineering concepts into practical, manufacturable designs.
• You take ownership of outcomes and follow through on commitments.
• You enjoy working closely with technicians, fabricators, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to develop a novel product at the intersection of robotics, aerospace, and advanced materials.
• Direct ownership of critical design decisions and product development activities.
• Hands-on involvement in design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment.
• Close collaboration within a small, highly technical team.
• Exposure to cutting-edge autonomous systems and defence technologies.
• A fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where your work has a visible impact.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and equity participation.

Employment Details

Type: Full-time

Location: On-site in Kanata, ON

Compensation: $105,000-$120,000 plus equity and benefits, based on experience and fit for the role.

Travel: Occasional travel to suppliers, test sites, and on-water field trials may be required.

This posting is for an existing, open vacancy.

Security clearance: Some roles are conditional on the ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.

Use of AI in hiring: We may use AI tools to help with parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications, screening resumes, and evaluating candidate responses. These tools support our team, but people make all hiring decisions. AI is used to assist, not replace, human judgment.

Remote Robotic Systems is an equal opportunity employer. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know.