Drone Prototyping & Systems Integration Engineer

Jobtailor; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a Mechanical/Robotics engineer in San Diego to rapidly translate concepts into drone prototypes, integrating mechanical and electronic subsystems. The role demands hands-on fabrication, quick CAD iterations, and rigorous testing across bench, ground, and flight environments.

Ideal candidates have a strong CAD background, 3+ years building electromechanical prototypes, and eligibility for U.S. security clearance, with citizenship requirements due to DoD contracts.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or equivalent practical engineering experience.
• 3+ years developing physical hardware systems.
• Demonstrated experience building and testing drones, UAVs, robotics, aircraft, or autonomous systems.
• Strong mechanical CAD skills.
• Significant hands-on experience building electromechanical prototypes.
• Experience with multiple manufacturing and fabrication processes.
• Strong mechanical intuition and troubleshooting real-world hardware problems.
• Comfortable using common shop tools and performing prototype assembly and modification.
• U.S. citizenship required; the company can only hire U.S. Citizens due to its industry and government contracts.
• Eligible for a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Rapidly turn concepts and requirements into functional drone prototypes.
• Design and modify airframes, mechanisms, brackets, mounts, enclosures, payload interfaces, and vehicle components.
• Build and assemble prototype unmanned aircraft and subsystems.
• Integrate motors, propulsion systems, batteries, avionics, sensors, compute hardware, communications equipment, and payloads.
• Create quick-turn CAD designs and engineering drawings.
• Use additive manufacturing, CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, and other fabrication methods to produce prototype parts.
• Perform hands-on fabrication, assembly, rework, and modification of prototype hardware.
• Develop test fixtures and experimental setups.
• Support bench testing, ground testing, environmental testing, and flight testing.
• Diagnose hardware and integration failures across mechanical and electromechanical systems.
• Rapidly redesign components based on test results.
• Lead the technical maturation of Locust, an advanced unmanned aircraft system, from demonstrated prototype to a DoD fieldable LRIP platform.
• Work directly with hardware and collaborate with engineers to make rapid design changes based on testing.

Skills

Mechanical CAD

Prototype Development

Electromechanical Systems

Fabrication Experience

Testing and Troubleshooting

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CNC Machining

Additive Manufacturing

Job description

Jobtailor is seeking a Mechanical/Robotics engineer in San Diego to rapidly translate concepts into drone prototypes, integrating mechanical and electronic subsystems. The role demands hands-on fabrication, quick CAD iterations, and rigorous testing across bench, ground, and flight environments.

Ideal candidates have a strong CAD background, 3+ years building electromechanical prototypes, and eligibility for U.S. security clearance, with citizenship requirements due to DoD contracts.