Drone Platform Engineer
Dracoe HQ / North Carolina & Dracoe UK (Remote)
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The Workshop
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Full Time
About
The Workshop
The Workshop is where ideas are transformed into capability and problems are solved.
It’s our engineering hub - where autonomous systems are conceived, built, tested, and refined to address real operational challenges.
Spanning the entire UAS ecosystem, our work covers software, platform design, RF, propulsion, and beyond - all tightly integrated from concept to prototype.
Our environment is transparent and experimentation-driven. We encourage rapid iteration, early learning, and constructive challenge, creating space for bold thinking and technical excellence.
By empowering exceptional engineers to explore, test, and improve without friction, The Workshop consistently delivers smarter, more resilient systems.
What you’ll do
Role
This role gives you ownership over designing, prototyping and practical testing of Dracoe's UAS platforms and their supporting sub-systems.
You'll take capabilities from concept to operation with users. Working with avionics, propulsion systems, sensors and software, you will push the limits of what's possible for UAS.
This role covers design, testing and practical problem solving with UAS. This is a hands-on, practical role for ambitious UAS engineers.
Operating at the intersection of aerospace, robots and cutting-edge technology, you'll play a key role in ensuring we can build autonomous systems to support industry and western democracies.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and own the end-to-end UAS platform, including airframe, propulsion, avionics, power systems, and payload integration.
- Integrate hardware and software components into a cohesive, flight-ready platform
- Conduct ground and flight testing; analyze results and drive rapid iteration and performance improvements
- Select, evaluate, and qualify sensors, communications systems, and third-party components
- Troubleshoot complex system-level issues across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
- Support transition from prototype to production, including design for manufacturability and maintainability
- Plan, execute, and analyze RF and communications testing to ensure robust, secure, and reliable C2.
Who you are
Experience
- 3+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and testing unmanned aerial systems.
- Experience integrating avionics, flight controllers, sensors, RF communications, and payloads into a complete UAS platform
- Proven experience with RF and communications systems, including datalink integration, antenna placement, and range/interference testing
- Experience conducting ground tests and flight tests, with the ability to analyze telemetry, logs, and test data to drive design improvements
- Familiarity with flight control software and autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, or equivalent)
- Experience supporting prototype builds through transition to production or low-rate manufacturing
- Experience with CAD and mechanical design tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or equivalent), including airframe layout, mounting structures and design for integration.
Skills
- Ability to work & problem solve across mechanical, electrical, and avionics interfaces
- Mavlink / BetaFlight / ArduPilot / PX4
- System Integration & Platform Architecture
- Flight Test & Performance Validation
- RF & Communications Systems
- CAD & Mechanical Design
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
- Attention to detail and critical thinking.
- Able to operate in ambiguity and take responsibility for delivery.
- Thriving in a fast paced environment.
Qualifications
Required:
- Demonstrated 3 years experience in UAS, aerospace, defence, automotive, or equivalent environment.
Desirable:
- Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering or Robotics.
Equivalent practical experience designing and building complex hardware systems will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications.
Desirable
- Developing and testing autonomous systems and deploying in real-world environments.
- Military experience or background in defence
- Experience making products for national security customers
What you’ll get
Compensation
Salary:
£75,000 - £90,000
$102,000 - $120,000
Benefits
We offer comprehensive health insurance, generous paid time off, access to a company pension scheme and equity in a mission-driven company.
Stipends
You'll receive an annual stipend for gym reimbursements for up to $1000 per year and approved role-related learning credits for up to $1000 per year.
Drone Platform Engineer
About
The Workshop
The Workshop is where ideas are transformed into capability and problems are solved.
It’s our engineering hub - where autonomous systems are conceived, built, tested, and refined to address real operational challenges.
Spanning the entire UAS ecosystem, our work covers software, platform design, RF, propulsion, and beyond - all tightly integrated from concept to prototype.
Our environment is transparent and experimentation-driven. We encourage rapid iteration, early learning, and constructive challenge, creating space for bold thinking and technical excellence.
By empowering exceptional engineers to explore, test, and improve without friction, The Workshop consistently delivers smarter, more resilient systems.
What you’ll do
Role
This role gives you ownership over designing, prototyping and practical testing of Dracoe's UAS platforms and their supporting sub-systems.
You'll take capabilities from concept to operation with users. Working with avionics, propulsion systems, sensors and software, you will push the limits of what's possible for UAS.
This role covers design, testing and practical problem solving with UAS. This is a hands-on, practical role for ambitious UAS engineers.
Operating at the intersection of aerospace, robots and cutting-edge technology, you'll play a key role in ensuring we can build autonomous systems to support industry and western democracies.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and own the end-to-end UAS platform, including airframe, propulsion, avionics, power systems, and payload integration.
- Integrate hardware and software components into a cohesive, flight-ready platform
- Conduct ground and flight testing; analyze results and drive rapid iteration and performance improvements
- Select, evaluate, and qualify sensors, communications systems, and third-party components
- Troubleshoot complex system-level issues across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
- Support transition from prototype to production, including design for manufacturability and maintainability
- Plan, execute, and analyze RF and communications testing to ensure robust, secure, and reliable C2.
Who you are
Experience
- 3+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and testing unmanned aerial systems.
- Experience integrating avionics, flight controllers, sensors, RF communications, and payloads into a complete UAS platform
- Proven experience with RF and communications systems, including datalink integration, antenna placement, and range/interference testing
- Experience conducting ground tests and flight tests, with the ability to analyze telemetry, logs, and test data to drive design improvements
- Familiarity with flight control software and autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, or equivalent)
- Experience supporting prototype builds through transition to production or low-rate manufacturing
- Experience with CAD and mechanical design tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or equivalent), including airframe layout, mounting structures and design for integration.
Skills
- Ability to work & problem solve across mechanical, electrical, and avionics interfaces
- Mavlink / BetaFlight / ArduPilot / PX4
- System Integration & Platform Architecture
- Flight Test & Performance Validation
- RF & Communications Systems
- CAD & Mechanical Design
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
- Attention to detail and critical thinking.
- Able to operate in ambiguity and take responsibility for delivery.
- Thriving in a fast paced environment.
Qualifications
Required:
- Demonstrated 3 years experience in UAS, aerospace, defence, automotive, or equivalent environment.
Desirable:
- Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering or Robotics.
Equivalent practical experience designing and building complex hardware systems will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications.
Desirable
- Developing and testing autonomous systems and deploying in real-world environments.
- Military experience or background in defence
- Experience making products for national security customers
What you’ll get
Compensation
Salary:
£75,000 - £90,000
$102,000 - $120,000
Benefits
We offer comprehensive health insurance, generous paid time off, access to a company pension scheme and equity in a mission-driven company.
Stipends
You'll receive an annual stipend for gym reimbursements for up to $1000 per year and approved role-related learning credits for up to $1000 per year.
Drone Platform Engineer
About
The Workshop
The Workshop is where ideas are transformed into capability and problems are solved.
It’s our engineering hub - where autonomous systems are conceived, built, tested, and refined to address real operational challenges.
Spanning the entire UAS ecosystem, our work covers software, platform design, RF, propulsion, and beyond - all tightly integrated from concept to prototype.
Our environment is transparent and experimentation-driven. We encourage rapid iteration, early learning, and constructive challenge, creating space for bold thinking and technical excellence.
By empowering exceptional engineers to explore, test, and improve without friction, The Workshop consistently delivers smarter, more resilient systems.
What you’ll do
Role
This role gives you ownership over designing, prototyping and practical testing of Dracoe's UAS platforms and their supporting sub-systems.
You'll take capabilities from concept to operation with users. Working with avionics, propulsion systems, sensors and software, you will push the limits of what's possible for UAS.
This role covers design, testing and practical problem solving with UAS. This is a hands-on, practical role for ambitious UAS engineers.
Operating at the intersection of aerospace, robots and cutting-edge technology, you'll play a key role in ensuring we can build autonomous systems to support industry and western democracies.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and own the end-to-end UAS platform, including airframe, propulsion, avionics, power systems, and payload integration.
- Integrate hardware and software components into a cohesive, flight-ready platform
- Conduct ground and flight testing; analyze results and drive rapid iteration and performance improvements
- Select, evaluate, and qualify sensors, communications systems, and third-party components
- Troubleshoot complex system-level issues across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
- Support transition from prototype to production, including design for manufacturability and maintainability
- Plan, execute, and analyze RF and communications testing to ensure robust, secure, and reliable C2.
Who you are
Experience
- 3+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and testing unmanned aerial systems.
- Experience integrating avionics, flight controllers, sensors, RF communications, and payloads into a complete UAS platform
- Proven experience with RF and communications systems, including datalink integration, antenna placement, and range/interference testing
- Experience conducting ground tests and flight tests, with the ability to analyze telemetry, logs, and test data to drive design improvements
- Familiarity with flight control software and autopilot stacks (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot, or equivalent)
- Experience supporting prototype builds through transition to production or low-rate manufacturing
- Experience with CAD and mechanical design tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or equivalent), including airframe layout, mounting structures and design for integration.
Skills
- Ability to work & problem solve across mechanical, electrical, and avionics interfaces
- Mavlink / BetaFlight / ArduPilot / PX4
- System Integration & Platform Architecture
- Flight Test & Performance Validation
- RF & Communications Systems
- CAD & Mechanical Design
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
- Attention to detail and critical thinking.
- Able to operate in ambiguity and take responsibility for delivery.
- Thriving in a fast paced environment.
Qualifications
Required:
- Demonstrated 3 years experience in UAS, aerospace, defence, automotive, or equivalent environment.
Desirable:
- Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering or Robotics.
Equivalent practical experience designing and building complex hardware systems will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications.
Desirable
- Developing and testing autonomous systems and deploying in real-world environments.
- Military experience or background in defence
- Experience making products for national security customers
What you’ll get
Compensation
Salary:
£75,000 - £90,000
$102,000 - $120,000
Benefits
We offer comprehensive health insurance, generous paid time off, access to a company pension scheme and equity in a mission-driven company.
Stipends
You'll receive an annual stipend for gym reimbursements for up to $1000 per year and approved role-related learning credits for up to $1000 per year.