UAV System Engineer

Pinaak Aerial Systems Pvt. Ltd.; Pune District; On-site; INR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinaak Aerial Systems Pvt. Ltd. in Pune develops innovative UAV platforms and flight control solutions.

The role focuses on system-level integration of airframe, propulsion, flight controller, sensors, radio, power, and payload across multirotor, fixed-wing, and VTOL platforms. You will configure ArduPilot on Open-source F405 and H743 flight controllers, tune for stable flight, conduct flight tests, analyze logs, and support airworthiness activities.

Qualifications

• Configure and set up ArduPilot on open-source flight controllers — firmware install, frame and parameter configuration, sensor and radio calibration, flight-mode setup and failsafe configuration.
• Tune aircraft for stable flight — PID and filter tuning, vibration handling, autotune, and manual tuning for multiple platforms.
• Plan and conduct flight testing — pre-flight checks, ground tests, maiden flights and test campaigns.
• Analyze flight logs to diagnose issues, quantify performance and drive improvements.

Responsibilities

• Own the UAV at the system level across multirotor, fixed-wing, and VTOL platforms.
• Set up and operate Ground Control Station (Mission Planner / QGroundControl) and manage telemetry.
• Support DGCA Type Certification and airworthiness as required.

Skills

ArduPilot

Flight controllers

PID tuning

Ground Control Station

Flight testing

Data analysis

UAV integration

Telemetry

Tools

Mission Planner

QGroundControl

ArduPilot firmware

Job description

• Own the UAV at the system level integrate airframe, propulsion, flight controller, sensors, radio, power and payload into a complete, well-tuned aircraft across multirotor, fixed-wing and hybrid VTOL platforms.
• Configure and set up ArduPilot on open-source F405 and H743 flight controllers — firmware install, frame and parameter configuration, sensor and radio calibration, flight-mode setup and failsafe configuration.
• Tune aircraft for stable, reliable flight — PID and filter tuning, harmonic notch / vibration handling, autotune, and manual tuning for multirotor and fixed-wing / VTOL platforms, including VTOL transition tuning.
• Plan and conduct flight testing — pre-flight checks, ground / bench tests, maiden flights, and structured flight-test campaigns to validate performance, stability, endurance and payload behaviour.
• Act as test pilot for multirotor and fixed-wing UAVs (or work closely with the test pilot) — safely operate aircraft in manual and assisted modes and recover from off-nominal situations.
• Set up and operate the Ground Control Station (Mission Planner / QGroundControl) — mission planning, telemetry monitoring, parameter management, and in-field configuration changes.
• Analyse flight logs (dataflash / tlogs) to diagnose issues, quantify performance, and drive tuning and design improvements; correlate flight behaviour with predictions.
• Diagnose and resolve cross-domain integration issues spanning electronics, firmware, mechanical, propulsion and RF — and route clear, reproducible feedback to the relevant design teams.
• Own radio, datalink and telemetry setup and range behaviour — RC link, telemetry and failsafe / return-to-launch behaviour — in coordination with the RF and firmware teams.
• Support propulsion and endurance validation — motor / propeller / battery selection and thrust-to-weight and endurance verification — with the design and propulsion teams.
• Maintain flight-worthiness — aircraft build-up, pre-flight inspection, field repair, and configuration and log record-keeping for traceability.
• Support DGCA Type Certification and airworthiness — flight-test evidence, performance substantiation, and required test sorties.