Drone Development Engineer (Jacksonville, Florida)

Apellix; Jacksonville (FL); Presencial; USD 140 000 - 190 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Competitive compensation

401(k) and company contributions

Paid healthcare

Resumo da oferta

Apellix is seeking a Development Engineering Lead to drive the design and productionization of autonomous drone systems for industrial applications. You will own end‑to‑end development from concept through prototyping, testing, qualification, and manufacturing transition, mentoring a multidisciplinary engineering team along the way.

The role requires leading cross‑functional programs, establishing technical roadmaps, and ensuring compliance with aviation and safety standards.

Qualificações

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or related field.
• 7+ years engineering experience with 2+ years in leadership.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams on complex hardware programs.
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience taking hardware from prototype to production.
• Familiarity with DFM/DFT and manufacturing processes.

Responsabilidades

• Mentor a team of engineers across mechanical, electrical, software and systems disciplines.
• Define roadmaps, standards and development processes.
• Ensure compliance with aviation, safety and regulatory requirements.
• Lead drone platform development through all product lifecycle stages.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, quality and operations for DFM/DFT.

Conhecimentos

Mentoring

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Team communication

Hardware product development

Formação académica

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering

Ferramentas

CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, Fusion 360)

Descrição da oferta de emprego

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

• 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