Rapid Prototyping Engineer – Drones, Unmanned Systems

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

• 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

Requirements

• 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 ability to troubleshoot 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

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in designing and building drone prototypes, integrating complex systems, and performing rigorous testing and troubleshooting of hardware. Proficient in mechanical CAD and various fabrication methods to support the development of unmanned aircraft systems.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Mechanical CAD Skills
• Prototype Development
• Electromechanical Systems Integration
• Hands-On Fabrication Experience
• U.S. Citizenship

Hard Skills

• Drone Prototyping
• Mechanical Design
• Electromechanical Prototyping
• Troubleshooting Hardware
• CNC Machining
• Additive Manufacturing
• Fabrication Processes
• Testing and Validation
• Engineering Drawings
• Rapid Redesign

Soft Skills

• Strong Mechanical Intuition
• Collaboration with Engineers

Certifications & Qualifications

• U.S. Security Clearance Eligibility

Industry Keywords

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• UAVs
• Robotics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics

Tools & Technologies

• Common Shop Tools
• Test Fixtures
• Environmental Testing Equipment
• Flight Testing Equipment