Lead Product Development Engineer

SYOS Aerospace; Mount Maunganui; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Visa sponsorship

Job summary

SYOS Aerospace in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, is seeking a Lead Product Development Engineer to drive the technical development of autonomous uncrewed vehicles across air and land. The role provides leadership across design concept through build, test, and production.

The successful candidate will own system-level outcomes, guide cross-disciplinary teams, and ensure designs are manufacturable, verifiable, and production-ready, while mentoring engineers and shaping the technical roadmap.

Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master of Engineering or PhD required.
• 8+ years in product development.
• 2+ years in technical leadership.
• Experience guiding multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience leading design, build, test.
• Project leadership desirable.

Responsibilities

• Drive technical development of autonomous air and land vehicles.
• Align technical scope with schedules and budgets with PMs.
• Set direction and architectural decisions.
• Lead cross-functional trade-offs and production readiness.
• Chair technical reviews and meetings.
• Mentor engineers and develop capability.

Skills

Technical leadership

Cross-disciplinary

Project leadership

Risk management

Mentoring

Communication

System integration

Education

Bachelor/Master of Engineering or PhD

Job description

SYOS is a fast-growing global robotics and aerospace company, driving the development of cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles (drones) across air, land, and sea for dual-use applications. We are committed to pushing technological boundaries and delivering exceptional products that consistently exceed customer expectations.

Role Overview

The Lead Product Development Engineer drives the technical development of one or more of SYOS’ autonomous, uncrewed vehicles. This role provides technical leadership across the full product development lifecycle, from design concept through build, test, and transition to production. The role is responsible for owning system‑level technical outcomes, guiding cross‑disciplinary engineering teams, and ensuring products are delivered with the right balance of engineering rigour and pace.

This role requires a senior engineer who excels at providing clear direction to engineering project teams in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership of Product Development

• Drive the technical development of highly capable, autonomous, uncrewed air and land vehicles
• Work closely with Project Managers to align technical scope and decisions with schedule, resource and budgets
• Set the technical direction and make architectural design decisions
• Guide cross‑functional technical trade‑offs across engineering disciplines and adjacent functions e.g., production, quality
• Ensure designs are manufacturable, testable, and production‑ready
• Chair technical reviews and project technical meetings

Risk, Verification & Compliance

• Manage technical risks by identifying and mitigating risks proactively
• Define and own the verification and validation strategy
• Ensure engineering outputs meet technical standards and safety expectations
• Approve technical documents, designs, and configuration baselines

Project Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Drive successful product development by getting the best outcomes from cross‑disciplinary engineering project teams
• Communicate technical plans, decisions, and actions clearly to stakeholders
• Act as the primary technical interface across internal teams and, where required, external customers or partners
• Mentor and develop engineers, building long‑term capability

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor/Master of Engineering or PhD
• 8+ years’ experience in product development
• 2+ years’ experience in technical leadership roles
• Strong engineering technical background include exposure to multiple disciplines and cross-discipline integration
• Experience leading engineering teams through product design, build, and test
• Project leadership experience strongly desirable

Advantageous

• Experience in aerospace/defence, uncrewed vehicles, or robotics
• Postgraduate qualifications or advanced technical certifications

Key Attributes

• High technical credibility across multiple engineering disciplines
• Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information
• Clear communicator with the ability to challenge constructively
• Structured, proactive approach to risk and dependency management
• Strategic thinker with strong delivery focus

Autonomy & Accountability

• High autonomy in technical decision‑making
• Accountable for system‑level technical integrity and outcomes
• Trusted authority within the engineering organisation

What We Offer

• A dynamic and fast-paced environment working on state‑of‑the‑art UxV technology.
• Opportunities for career growth in a high-tech, innovative team.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Visa sponsorship for international candidates.

Location:

This position is based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Known for its stunning surf beaches, vibrant culture, and burgeoning tech scene, Mount Maunganui offers an excellent quality of life and a conducive environment for innovation.