Junior UAV Design Engineer Amsterdam (NL)

Trusk; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Trusk Technology in Amsterdam, NL, is building next-gen interceptor drones with a focus on fast, autonomous hardware. We’re seeking an engineer to design airframes in Fusion 360, print parts, and run field tests that push our UAV platform to the edge of reliability.

You will own aerodynamic sizing, mass/balance, and flight dynamics, while collaborating with autonomy and software teams to ensure flight readiness. English language required.

Qualifications

• A degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on CAD in Fusion 360 and 3D printing of functional parts.
• Strong grasp of aerodynamics and flight dynamics.
• Clear written and spoken English; Dutch a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Design airframes, mounts, and interfaces from sketch to manufacturable parts.
• Own aerodynamic sizing, mass/balance, and drag estimates.
• Produce flight hardware and manage 3D printing processes.
• Build and maintain flight test platforms and drones.
• Plan field tests with safety, instrumentation, and data logging.
• Troubleshoot field faults and coordinate with hardware/software teams.
• Collaborate with autonomy engineers on sensor/payload changes.

Skills

Aerospace Eng

Fusion 360 CAD

3D printing

Aerodynamics

Flight dynamics

Python scripting

English required

UAV hardware

Education

Aerospace/Mechanical Eng degree

Tools

Fusion 360

ArduPilot

SITL

Gazebo

Python

Job description

We're building next-generation interceptor drones: fast, autonomous, and field-ready.

What you’ll work on

Design and iterate airframes, mounts, and mechanical interfaces in Fusion 360, from first sketch to a part that flies the same week

Own the aerodynamic side of our interceptor and target drone platforms: wing and control surface sizing, mass and balance, drag estimates, and the trade-offs that follow when a payload or a sensor moves

Produce flight hardware yourself. Most of what you design will be 3D printed, and you run that process: material choice, print settings, and the judgement of when a printed part is good enough to fly

Build and maintain our flying test platforms and target drones: assembly, wiring, hardware integration, and the small mechanical fixes that keep a test day on schedule

Plan and fly field test programmes: safety protocols, ground crew coordination, instrumentation, logging, and the post‑flight read of what the airframe actually did versus what the model predicted

Troubleshoot mechanical, control, and telemetry faults in the field, and feed what you find back to the hardware and software teams

Work alongside the autonomy engineers when a design change affects sensors, payloads, or the flight controller

Role split

40% field and flight operations

10% software integration support

What We’re Looking For

CORE SKILLS

A degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design or Product Engineering.

Hands-on CAD in Fusion 360: you can take a part from sketch to a manufacturable model without hand‑holding.

Practical 3D printing experience: you have printed functional parts, and you know how print orientation, material and settings change what a part can survive.

A working grasp of aerodynamics and flight dynamics, and a strong habit of checking a design against them.

NICE TO HAVES

Hands‑on experience with small UAV hardware: assembly, integration, or flight testing at any scale

You fly, or you have operated UAVs in a test setting and are comfortable being responsible for a flight

You solve problems on the field, with the tools and parts that are actually there

Clear written and spoken English; Dutch is a plus but not required

EU Drone Permit A1/A3 or higher. Not required; we will support you in getting it

Python, enough to script a log parser or glue a test together

Familiarity with ArduPilot, SITL, or a simulator such as Gazebo

Experience with composite layup or small‑run machining

Prior exposure to defence, aerospace, or safety‑critical systems

You get to build real hardware and run real flights. The parts you design leave the screen. You will be there when they fly, and when something breaks you will be the one who works out why.

Tons of ownership. You are not detailing someone else’s airframe, you are designing the next one. Europe needs its own defence technology. Our mission is to build it, fast, in Amsterdam.

The application process

Three short rounds, including a practical assessment that respects your time. We move quickly, typically two to three weeks from application to offer.

Trusk Technology

Trusk is a fast growing company, founded on the belief that Europe needs to be self‑reliant for its defence. Warfare is changing. New doctrines are emerging around attritable drones. We’re countering the kamikaze drone threat with smart software on board of fast interceptor drones. This is but the beginning of fully autonomous systems that will dominate the battlefield of tomorrow.

I've never worked in a startup, is that a problem?

Can I work fully remote?

Do you only focus on Ukraine?

Background check, what's that all about?