Drone Mechanical Engineer – Field Deployment & Integration

Auterion; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Stock Options

Unlimited PTO

Health Insurance (includes dental &amp

Vision)

Medical flex spending

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan - 401k with company

Enhanced maternity & paternity leave

Job summary

Auterion is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to work with customers and partners to deploy and integrate our drone technology. You will lead mechanical integration, design adaptation, and field deployment of UAV platforms, collaborating with electrical, software, and product teams to ensure robust solutions.

You will guide customers through the full integration lifecycle—from initial system design and prototyping to on-site testing and operational deployment, traveling as needed and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering is required.
• 3+ years of mechanical engineering experience in robotics/aerospace/UAV hardware preferred.
• Strong mechanical design and prototyping experience with CAD tools.
• Hands-on fabrication and assembly techniques (3D printing, machining, soldering, wiring).
• Familiarity with integrating sensors, payloads, and embedded hardware into mechanical systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills and field troubleshooting ability.
• Experience working with customers or cross-functional stakeholders.
• Basic understanding of embedded systems or flight control hardware is a plus.
• UAV/drone piloting experience and PX4 familiarity are a plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally; US Citizenship with clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Execute mechanical integration of hardware and UAV systems into customer platforms, including structural design and mounting solutions.
• Design, develop, and iterate mechanical components using rapid prototyping methods.
• Support on-site deployments, testing, and validation of UAV systems; troubleshoot mechanical issues.
• Serve as primary technical contact for customers on mechanical topics; provide guidance and resolve issues.
• Collaborate with electrical, software, and product teams to ensure integrated systems.
• Create and maintain documentation: integration guides, drawings, assembly instructions, best practices.
• Support end-to-end implementation of Auterion’s technology within customer applications.

Skills

Mechanical design

Prototyping

On-site deployment support

Cross-functional collaboration

Troubleshooting

Customer communication

Embedded systems awareness

UAV piloting (nice-to-have)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

3D printing

Machining

Job description

Auterion is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to work with customers and partners to deploy and integrate our drone technology. You will lead mechanical integration, design adaptation, and field deployment of UAV platforms, collaborating with electrical, software, and product teams to ensure robust solutions.

You will guide customers through the full integration lifecycle—from initial system design and prototyping to on-site testing and operational deployment, traveling as needed and