Lead Drone Engineer

FPV Kinetics LLC; Texas; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

FPV Kinetics LLC is seeking a hands-on Lead Engineer to take ideas from CAD models to working prototypes and production-ready hardware. You will design parts, build and troubleshoot prototypes, select components, review test results, and revise as needed—working closely with the founder.

The role focuses on civilian FPV product development for racing performance and freestyle durability, with emphasis on integration of our frames and K-Pod system.

Qualifications

• Hands-on FPV engineering experience including design, build, integrate, tune, and troubleshoot FPV multirotors.
• Strong CAD skills with attention to manufacturability, tolerances, mounting interfaces, and prototyping.
• Experience with FPV electronics, propulsion, flight controllers, ESCs, motors, and power systems.
• Ability to plan tests, interpret results, and document changes independently.
• Related degree or practical experience in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or computer engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead drone and component development, designing airframes, mounting systems, and enclosures with measurable requirements.
• Develop and integrate the K-Pod system for durable, serviceable operation with thermal and electrical considerations.
• Prepare CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and assembly instructions for manufacturing.
• Build, test, and iterate prototypes, analyze flight data and reliability, and improve designs.
• Contribute to sourcing decisions and establish development schedules for product releases.

Skills

FPV engineering

Mechanical design

CAD modeling

Prototype fabrication

Electronics integration

Testing & validation

Project management

Python/C/C++

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

CAD software

Job description

FPV Kinetics LLC is a veteran-owned FPV drone company based in Tarrant County, Texas. We are developing premium racing drones, rugged freestyle drones, and the frames, protective hardware, and components that support them. Our focus is straightforward: strong performance, durable construction, practical serviceability, and products we can manufacture consistently.

Our proprietary product development includes the K-Pod, a protective, serviceable flight-stack enclosure, and our K5 and K7 frame platforms. Alongside these products, we are building a civilian FPV business around curated retail and subscription offerings, limited-run builds, and an expanding in-house manufacturing capability. We are also pursuing opportunities to manufacture components for other companies and government customers.

We want our products to make sense both in the air and on the workbench. Weight, handling, strength, battery efficiency, component protection, and ease of repair all matter. The engineering needs to reflect how pilots actually fly, maintain, and rebuild their drones.

Role Description

We need a lead engineer who can take a product from an idea and a CAD model through working prototypes, testing, and repeatable production. You will work directly with the founder to develop our products, evaluate design choices, solve integration problems, and establish the engineering processes needed to manufacture and support what we sell.

This is a hands-on role in a small company. You will be designing parts, building and troubleshooting prototypes, selecting components, reviewing test results, and making revisions—not just overseeing other engineers. You should be comfortable explaining the tradeoffs behind a decision and identifying what needs to be tested before we commit to a design.

The immediate priority is civilian FPV product development and manufacturing, particularly racing performance, freestyle durability, and the integration of our proprietary frames and K-Pod system. Autonomous navigation and advanced robotics software are not the center of this position.

This is a full-time, remote role, but the work includes physical hardware. Hands-on prototyping and close coordination with manufacturing and flight-testing activities are essential.

Key Responsibilities

Lead drone and component development. Design and refine complete FPV builds, airframes, mounting systems, enclosures, and supporting hardware. Establish measurable requirements for weight, strength, handling, propulsion, efficiency, serviceability, and cost based on each product’s intended use.

Develop and integrate the K-Pod system. Engineer a protective flight-stack enclosure that balances durability and convenient access with thermal management, vibration control, radio performance, wiring, and secure mounting. Develop practical connections and interfaces that simplify assembly, maintenance, and replacement.

Prepare designs for manufacturing. Produce CAD models, engineering drawings, tolerances, bills of materials, and assembly instructions. Develop and improve tooling, fixtures, material choices, and fabrication methods so a successful prototype can become a product we build consistently. Support both proprietary products and component-manufacturing work.

Build, test, and improve the hardware. Assemble prototypes, integrate and tune flight systems, and develop bench and flight-test plans. Analyze flight data, structural failures, vibration, heat, power consumption, and component reliability. Use those results to make documented improvements and help resolve production or customer-reported problems.

Support sourcing and product planning. Evaluate components, materials, suppliers, and manufacturing partners for performance, compatibility, quality, availability, and cost. Help establish realistic development schedules for product releases and limited production runs, including what must be validated before a product is ready to sell.

Maintain engineering records and support intellectual-property development. Keep design files, revisions, configurations, test results, and production documentation organized under company control. Document original designs and development work to support FPV Kinetics LLC’s intellectual-property filings. Communicate technical requirements and limitations clearly to the founder, suppliers, and other team members.

Qualifications

Practical FPV engineering experience. Experience designing, building, integrating, configuring, tuning, and troubleshooting FPV multirotors. A clear understanding of the different demands placed on racing and freestyle aircraft is important.

Strong mechanical design and CAD skills. Experience with airframe design, material selection, structural considerations, tolerances, mounting interfaces, and prototype fabrication. Designs should account for how parts will be manufactured, assembled, serviced, and replaced.

Working knowledge of FPV electronics and propulsion. Familiarity with flight controllers, electronic speed controllers, motors, propellers, batteries, receivers, video systems, and power distribution. Ability to diagnose integration problems involving wiring, electrical noise, vibration, heat, and component compatibility.

Sound testing and project judgment. Ability to establish requirements, plan meaningful tests, interpret results, investigate failures, and document changes. Comfortable working independently, communicating directly, and raising problems early rather than letting them carry into production.

Relevant education or equivalent practical experience. A degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, computer engineering, or a related field is welcome. Demonstrated experience developing and delivering working hardware is equally relevant.

Additional Experience We Value

Experience with composite structures, resin-based manufacturing, CNC machining, additive manufacturing, tooling, fixtures, or small-batch production would be particularly useful. Electronics design, embedded systems, and C/C++ or Python skills are also valuable, especially for hardware integration, diagnostics, and test automation.

Direct involvement in FPV racing or freestyle flying is a strong advantage. We value an engineer who understands the equipment from both the design side and the pilot’s perspective.

Please include examples of hardware you have designed, built, tested, or helped put into production, with a brief explanation of your contribution.