Mechanical Design Engineer, Unmanned Systems

SE3 Labs; München; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work environment

AI tools

Stock equity

Paid time off

Wellbeing program

Team retreats

Mentorship

Job summary

SE3 Labs is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer, Unmanned Systems, to own the mechanisms, enclosures and integration of our on-board systems into UAVs and ground platforms. From concept trade-offs to production, you will unite electronics, airframes and payloads into flying, connected multi-domain systems.

Reporting to the Hardware Lead, you’ll work closely with electronics and prototyping teams, translate mission needs into robust hardware, and drive designs from CAD through flight tests to

Qualifications

• MSc in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2+ years hands-on hardware design experience.
• Proficient in 3D modelling CAD (Onshape) and production-quality drawings.
• Knowledge of sizing structural elements, fasteners, interfaces and thermal paths.
• Understand kinematics, packaging and electro-mechanical systems.
• Fluent English; German a plus.

Responsibilities

• Translate mission needs into hardware requirements and trade-off design concepts.
• Design and refine sealed avionics enclosures, cooling concepts, interfaces, connection and release mechanisms, packaging and integration into UAVs and ground systems.
• Prototype, test hardware with speed and precision in simulation, test rigs and flight.
• Validate and field-test designs via simulation and real-world testing with partners and armed forces.
• Document and industrialize work to scale for thousands of customers in collaboration with manufacturing partners.

Skills

MSc Aerospace

Hardware design

3D CAD

Thermal analysis

Kinematics

Packaging

English fluent

German a plus

Education

MSc in Aerospace/Mechanical Eng or related

Tools

Onshape CAD

Job description

Own the physical integration of our autonomy platform into drones, payloads and ground systems. Your work defines the fieldability, performance and production quality of our core hardware.

About SE3

SE3 Labs is building Spatial AI by combining 3D computer vision with large language models (LLMs). We believe the ability to reason about and act within physical space is foundational to unlocking the next generation of automation, from construction to smart infrastructure, and with a strong focus on defense.

Now, we’re building the physical platform to bring Spatial AI to life. That means high-performance, real-world robotic systems and we’re looking for a skilled, hands‑on engineer who can turn strong concepts into robust products.

About the Role

As Mechanical Design Engineer, Unmanned Systems, you’ll design the mechanisms, enclosures and physical integration of our on-board systems into various UAV platforms. From concept trade‑off to CAD to flight test and on to production introduction, you will bring electronics, airframes, payloads and ground systems together into flying, connected and advanced multi-domain systems.

You’ll report directly to our Hardware Lead and collaborate most closely with electronics developers and prototyping team. SE3 sets no bounds on collaboration so you will engage with our customer‑facing colleagues and AI software developers to realize an ambitious vision of whole systems with intelligent drones at the center. Mechanical integration will be your domain, and you’ll be trusted to own it independently.

What You’ll Work On

• Requirements & Concepts: Translate mission‑needs into hardware requirements and trade‑off design concepts to meet them

• Design & Engineer: Design and refine sealed avionics enclosures, cooling concepts, interfaces, connection and release mechanisms, packaging and integration into UAVs and ground systems such as charging‑, control‑ and launch platforms

• Prototype & Iterate: Build, rework, and test hardware with speed and precision, in simulation, test rigs and in flight

• Validate & Field‑Test: Analyze and improve designs via simulation and real‑world testing up until and including exercises with partners and armed forces

• Document and Industrialize: Make your work the lasting foundation of our tech and bring it into thousands of customers’ hands in collaboration with our manufacturing partner network

Your Profile

• M.Sc. in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a related field

• You bring 2+ years of hands‑on experience in hardware design and development, ideally including mechanism design from concept to tested (sub-) system

• You’re highly proficient in 3D modelling (CAD, preferably Onshape) and creating production‑quality drawings

• You’re familiar with selection and sizing of structural elements, fasteners, interfaces and thermal paths

• You understand kinematics, packaging and electro‑mechanical systems

• You know when a simple answer is the right answer, and when a design needs deeper analysis, precision and careful consideration

• You speak fluent English; German is a plus

• Most importantly, you’re structured, fast‑moving, and mission‑driven. You don’t wait for perfection. You iterate until it works. You love building things that last.

Especially Valued Bonus Skills

• Experience in designing lightweight electronic enclosures for harsh conditions

• You’ve independently prototyped and tested mechanisms and seen them through refinement cycles into production

• Experience with ISO GD&T, DFM/DFA, FEA interpretation and material selection

• Thermal design and analysis for compact electronics or similar systems

• Hardware testing & qualification experience (ideally including MIL‑STD thermal, vibration, etc.)

• Skilled in designing fixtures and test‑rigs

• Familiarity with light UAVs or aircraft systems or defense equipment

Perks & Benefits

• Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high‑quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you

• AI‑boosted workplace: We empower every employee with best‑in‑class AI tools and agents, giving you unlimited access to the latest advancements and a true productivity edge

• Real Ownership: Get early, real stock to participate directly in SE3’s growth

• 31 Paid Days Off: 30 vacation days plus your birthday off

• Well‑being Access: Free membership to gyms, yoga, and wellness through EGYM Wellpass

• Team Offsites: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy, Greece and Spain

• Mentorship: Work closely with experienced engineers and get paired with a professional mentor to support your growth

Our Process

1. Intro Call (20 min): Let’s get to know each other (conducted by our Talent Team)

2. Technical Interview (60 min): Diving deeper into your experience, skills and and engineering thought process with practical examples (with Lukas, our Hardware Lead)

3. Team Dinner/Lunch: See if it’s a culture fit on both sides