Development Engineering Lead (Jacksonville, Florida)

Apellix; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company contributions

Paid healthcare

Telehealth services

Counseling

Job summary

Apellix is seeking a Development Engineering Lead to own end-to-end hardware development for autonomous industrial drones. You will mentor multi-disciplinary teams, define roadmaps and standards, and drive drone platforms from concept through production.

The role requires strong collaboration with manufacturing and suppliers to ensure feasible, scalable designs and regulatory compliance. Ideal candidates have hands-on experience taking hardware products from prototype to mass production, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 7+ years engineering experience including 2+ years in leadership/management.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and complex technical programs.
• Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor a team of engineers across mechanical, electrical, software, and systems disciplines.
• Define technical roadmaps, engineering standards, and development processes.
• Lead drone platforms through concept, prototyping, testing, qualification, and production transition.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and operations to ensure DFM and DFT.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

CAD tools

Robotics hardware design

Systems integration

Communication

DFM/DFT

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Mechatronics engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Fusion 360

Job description

At Apellix, we are developing a new generation of autonomous industrial application drones including systems for chemical/biological decontamination and automated power washing/painting. Our products allow robots to do the dull, dangerous and dirty work while allowing humans to remain safely on the ground rather than at dangerous heights.

We are looking for a highly motivated Development Engineering Lead with hands-on experience in designing and bringing robotics hardware products from early prototyping through full-scale production. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, startup environment and is comfortable owning end-to-end development — including mechanical design, electronics integration, prototyping, testing, and design for manufacturing. The ideal candidate has experience taking hardware ideas from prototype to production and enjoys working across disciplines to deliver real, shipped products.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor a team of engineers across mechanical, electrical, software, and systems disciplines.
• Define technical roadmaps, engineering standards, and development processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable aviation, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovations to improve performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Lead the development of drone platforms through all phases of the product lifecycle, including concept development, prototyping, testing, qualification, and production transition.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and operations teams to ensure design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-testability (DFT).
• Support technical reviews, risk assessments, root-cause investigations, and corrective action activities.
• Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies for Apellix UAV systems
• Integrate mechanical designs with electronics, sensors, actuators, and wiring
• Create detailed CAD models, drawings, and manufacturing documentation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field
• 7+ years of engineering experience, including 2+ years in technical leadership or engineering management roles.
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and complex technical programs.
• Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Experience taking at least one hardware product from prototyping to production/manufacturing
• Experience designing mechanical systems for robotics or electromechanical products
• Proficiency in CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, Fusion 360, or similar)
• Strong understanding of DFM/DFA principles and common manufacturing processes
• Experience working with common materials and fabrication methods (3D-printing, machining, sheet metal, plastics, carbon fiber, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience soldering, building, modifying, or working with drones or aerial robotics systems
• Comfortable integrating electronics into mechanical designs, including sensors, actuators, PCBs, and wiring
• Experience with electronics bring-up, integration testing, and troubleshooting
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or transitioning prototypes into production
• Knowledge of FAA, CE, or other UAV regulatory standards.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Successful delivery of development milestones within schedule and budget targets.
• Achievement of product performance, reliability, and certification objectives.
• Efficient transition of products from development to production.
• Reduction in development cycle times and technical risks.Team engagement, technical growth, and execution effectiveness.

What We Offer

• High ownership and autonomy in a fast-paced startup environment
• Opportunity to design, build, and ship real robotics hardware
• Exposure to the full hardware development lifecycle
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• 401(k) and company contributions
• Paid healthcare with telehealth and counseling