Forward Deployed Engineer, Mechanical

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

As a Forward Deployed Engineer, you will work closely with Auterion’s customers and partners to deploy and integrate our drone technology into their systems. This role focuses on the mechanical integration, design adaptation, and field deployment of UAV platforms and subsystems, while maintaining strong collaboration with cross-functional engineering teams.

You will combine hands-on mechanical engineering expertise with customer-facing project delivery, supporting clients through the full integration lifecycle—from initial system design and prototyping to testing and operational deployment. You will serve as a key technical interface between Auterion and customer engineering teams, ensuring reliable and scalable mechanical solutions that enable safe and effective drone operations.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Execute the mechanical integration of Auterion’s hardware and UAV systems into customer platforms, including structural design, mounting solutions, payload integration, and environmental considerations.
• Design, develop, and iterate mechanical components and assemblies using rapid prototyping techniques (e.g., CAD, 3D printing, machining), ensuring robustness, manufacturability, and performance in real-world conditions.
• Support on-site deployments, testing, and validation of UAV systems, troubleshooting mechanical and electromechanical issues to ensure reliable operation in diverse environments.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for customers on mechanical engineering topics, providing guidance, resolving issues, and ensuring successful system integration and adoption.
• Work closely with electrical, software, and product engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of mechanical, electronic, and control systems.
• Develop and maintain clear documentation, including integration guides, mechanical drawings, assembly instructions, and best practices for customers and internal teams.
• Support end-to-end implementation of Auterion’s technology within customer applications, ensuring alignment with technical requirements and operational constraints.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, preferably in robotics, aerospace, UAVs, or similar hardware-focused industries.
• Strong experience in mechanical design and prototyping, including CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar).
• Hands-on experience with fabrication and assembly techniques (3D printing, machining, soldering, wiring, and integration of electromechanical systems).
• Familiarity with integrating sensors, payloads, and embedded hardware into mechanical systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex system-level issues in the field.
• Experience working directly with customers or cross-functional stakeholders in a technical capacity.
• Basic understanding of embedded systems, flight control hardware, or robotics platforms is a plus.
• UAV/drone piloting experience and familiarity with flight control systems (e.g., PX4) is a plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work in dynamic, field-based environments.
• US Citizenship required, with eligibility to obtain clearances.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Stock Options
• Unlimited PTO
• Health Insurance (includes dental & vision)
• Medical flex spending
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan - 401k with company match
• Enhanced maternity & paternity leave

Base Salary Range:

$120,000 - $150,000

About Auterion

We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.

At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.