Senior UAV Prototyping Engineer

About the role

Stark is seeking a hands‑on Senior UAV Prototyping Engineer to turn early concepts into flight‑tested hardware. You will work in a fast‑paced R&D environment, building autonomous aerial and ground systems that directly support Europe’s defence capabilities.

Key responsibilities

• Take a concept from a sketch to a flying prototype, handling design, fabrication, integration and first flight.
• Define technical approaches across mechanical, electrical and software disciplines and resolve design conflicts.
• Lead field flight‑test campaigns, make go/no‑go decisions, diagnose failures quickly and decide on fixes or redesigns.
• Document solutions so other engineers can reproduce builds.
• Mentor junior and mid‑level engineers during design reviews and builds.
• Identify technical, schedule or process risks early and communicate them proactively.

Required profile

• Proven track record of independently delivering a complete UAV/UGV prototype from concept to flight‑tested hardware.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with composites, mechanical assemblies, robotics and embedded hardware gained in a workshop environment.
• Strong judgment under ambiguity and time pressure, knowing what is good‑enough to test versus deploy.
• Excellent root‑cause analysis skills without needing senior sign‑off.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor or technically lead peers informally.
• Portfolio of personal builds, competition entries or similar projects.

Required skills

• Composites fabrication
• Mechanical assembly
• Robotics integration
• Embedded hardware development
• UAV/UGV prototyping
• A2/A3 drone pilot certification (or equivalent)