Senior Drone Engineer

HavocAI; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

401k

Unlimited PTO

Equity

Stipend

Global Entry

Parental Leave

Wellness Stippend

Job summary

HavocAI seeks a Senior Drone Engineer to lead the maturation of Locust, our advanced UAS, as it moves from prototype to fieldable LRIP hardware. You will own airframe design for manufacture, perform structural analysis, and drive system-level integration with cross‑functional teams and manufacturing partners.

You will guide the program through critical LRIP milestones, ensuring airworthiness, producibility, and schedule adherence while coordinating with DoD customers and government stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years in UAS or aerospace structural design, analysis, testing, and product development.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, or equivalent.
• Experience performing structural analysis using FEA tools such as Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent.
• Experience transitioning aerospace systems from prototype through production readiness or LRIP.
• Experience preparing airworthiness documentation and DoD submissions.
• Experience managing schedules and communicating program status to leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural design and analysis of Locust airframe components (static, fatigue, crashworthiness).
• Drive DFM/DFA reviews to produce production-ready hardware.
• Own material selection, composite processes, and supplier qualification.
• Develop and execute structural test programs to support airworthiness certification and LRIP milestones.
• Maintain airframe configuration baseline, ECOs, and drawing releases.
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, and payload teams to manage weight targets.
• Lead first article inspections and production acceptance testing with partners.
• Develop build-to-print packages and inspection criteria for LRIP production.
• Support flight test campaigns by analyzing results and applying design improvements.

Skills

UAS/Aerospace design

3D CAD

FEA analysis

Airworthiness

Program leadership

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

Nastran

ANSYS

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 Drone 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 is a hands‑on engineering leadership role where you'll drive airframe design for manufacture, structural analysis, and system‑level integration while providing the program leadership necessary to keep the production effort on schedule and within budget. You will serve as the primary technical authority for Locust's production readiness, working closely with manufacturing partners, government customers, and cross‑functional engineering teams. Success in this role means delivering a robust, mission‑ready aircraft that can withstand the demands of operational use while being reliably manufactured at production scale.

Key Responsibilities

Airframe & Structures

• Lead structural design and analysis of Locust airframe components, including static, fatigue, and crashworthiness assessments.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) reviews, transforming prototype designs into repeatable, production‑ready hardware.
• Own material selection, composite manufacturing processes, and supplier qualification for primary and secondary structures.
• Develop and execute structural test programs, including coupon, component, and full‑vehicle testing, to support airworthiness certification and LRIP milestones.
• Establish and maintain the airframe configuration baseline, including engineering change orders (ECOs), drawing releases, and configuration management.

System Integration & Production Readiness

• Partner with propulsion, avionics, and payload engineering teams to integrate subsystems while maintaining structural integrity and weight targets.
• Lead first article inspections and production acceptance testing with manufacturing partners.
• Develop build‑to‑print packages, manufacturing work instructions, and inspection criteria supporting LRIP.
• Support flight test campaigns by analyzing results, driving corrective actions, and implementing design improvements.

Engineering Program Leadership

• Maintain engineering schedules and track progress against production milestones, proactively identifying risks and mitigation strategies.
• Prepare and present technical reviews and program status updates for executive leadership and government customers, including SRR, PDR, CDR, PRR, and other milestone reviews.
• Lead and mentor a small team of engineers and technicians supporting the Locust production effort.
• Support proposal development, production planning, and cost estimating for follow‑on production efforts.

Required Qualifications

• 8–12 years of experience in UAS or aerospace structural design, analysis, testing, and product development.
• Proficiency with modern 3D CAD software such as CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, or equivalent.
• Experience performing structural analysis using FEA tools such as Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated success transitioning aerospace systems from prototype (TRL 5–6) through production readiness or Low‑Rate Initial Production (LRIP).
• Experience preparing or contributing to airworthiness documentation, including structural substantiation reports or DoD Airworthiness Authority submissions.
• Experience managing technical schedules, tracking engineering deliverables, and communicating program status to internal leadership and government customers.
• U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) with the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret Security Clearance.
• Experience supporting a DoD UAS Program of Record or LRIP effort (Group 2–4 UAS preferred).
• Familiarity with MIL‑SPEC requirements, MMPDS (formerly MIL‑HDBK‑5), and DoD Airworthiness Authority processes.
• Experience designing small UAS or attritable/expendable aircraft where affordability and manufacturability are primary design drivers.
• Experience supporting formal government engineering reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, PRR, and associated technical data packages.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

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 level of commitment and care.
• Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long‑term success and making a lasting impact.

HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.