Rapid Prototyping Engineer - Drones & Unmanned Systems

havocai; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401k (Matching)

Equity package

Paid Parental Leave

Stipend for Work/Home Office

Job summary

HavocAI seeks a Senior Rapid Prototyping Engineer to lead the maturation of Locust, our advanced unmanned aircraft system, from prototype to DoD LRIP. You will work directly with hardware, turning concepts into functioning prototypes, integrating mechanical and electrical systems, and conducting tests.

Join a fast-paced team shipping production-ready autonomous systems and shaping the future of defense technology through rapid iteration and hands-on engineering across airframes, propulsion, and

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.
• 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.

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.

Skills

Prototype hardware

Drones/UAS

Mechanical design

Hands-on fabrication

Test and troubleshoot hardware

CAD design

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering / Aerospace / Robotics / Mechatronics

Tools

CAD software

Job description

About Us

Havoc is a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy. Its software-defined hardware approach powers military and commercial-grade autonomous systems across sea, air, and land to sense, decide, and act together in complex and contested environments. Havoc connects assets, enabling them to share information, adapt in real time, and continue operating even when communications are disrupted or denied. Havoc optimizes mission performance and minimizes human risk.

Havoc was founded in 2024 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Learn more at Havoc: All-Domain Collaborative Autonomy .

About the Role

HavocAI is seeking a Senior Rapid Prototyping Engineer to lead the technical maturation of Locust, our advanced unmanned aircraft system (UAS), as it transitions from a demonstrated prototype to a Department of Defense (DoD) fieldable, Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) platform.

This role is for an engineer who wants to spend significant time working directly with hardware. You will turn early concepts into functioning prototypes, integrate mechanical and electrical systems, troubleshoot vehicles, conduct tests, and make fast design changes based on what you learn.

Key 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

Required 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 ability to troubleshoot real‑world hardware problems
• Comfortable using common shop tools and performing prototype assembly and modification

Preferred Qualifications

• Personally designed, built, modified, or operated drones/UAVs
• Experience with multirotor, VTOL, fixed‑wing, or hybrid UAV platforms
• Experience integrating electric propulsion systems
• Experience with motors, ESCs, batteries, servos, flight controllers, radios, GPS, sensors, or avionics
• RC aircraft, drone racing, experimental aircraft, robotics competition, or similar hands‑on project experience

Why HavocAI

At HavocAI, you'll help build autonomous systems that solve real-world challenges in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. You'll work alongside exceptional engineers, move quickly, and see your work transition from prototype to production and ultimately into the hands of operators.

If you're excited about solving difficult engineering problems, owning critical technical decisions, and helping shape the future of autonomous systems, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits

• 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families
• Life Insurance (Employer Paid)
• Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching)
• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum
• Equity Package
• Work / Home Office Stipend
• Global Entry
• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave
• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

Our Values

• Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.
• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.
• Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission-protecting lives through innovation.
• Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.
• Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same leve