UAV Aerospace System Engineer
We are seeking a highly capable UAV Aerospace Engineer to lead the architectural design and system-level integration of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles. This role requires deep technical expertise in autonomous flight systems and close collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. Experience with High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) is strongly desired.
The ideal candidate combines strong engineering fundamentals with leadership ability and a systems-thinking mindset.
Salary Range: $150,000 annually to $170,000 annually
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the architectural and system-level design of fixed-wing UAV platform
- Define and integrate autonomous flight systems, including autopilot, navigation, and mission logic
- Oversee aircraft performance, configuration, and trade studies (aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, power)
- Collaborate closely with avionics, software, RF, operations, manufacturing, and test teams
- Provide technical leadership to a small, high-performance engineering team
- Support flight test planning, execution, and post-flight analysis
- Interface with internal stakeholders and external partners as needed
- Contribute to system documentation, requirements definition, and design reviews
- Support field operations and customer engagements, including travel as required
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- Strong understanding of autonomous systems and control with 10+ years experience
- Experience with autopilot architectures
- Familiarity with Ground Control Stations (GCS)
- Understanding of radio systems and RF operations
- Experience with UAV system integration and flight operations
- Experience with Matlab/Simulink and SolidWork
- Ability to work effectively across multiple teams and disciplines
- Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Engineering or Physics
- Experience with High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) or long-endurance UAVs
- Background in aircraft conceptual or preliminary design
- Experience leading or mentoring engineering teams
- Familiarity with regulatory, safety, and operational constraints for UAVs
Travel
Up to 20% travel anticipated for testing, integration, and coordination activities
What we Offer
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge UAV and HAPS platforms
- High-impact technical leadership role with real system ownership
- Collaborative, mission-driven engineering environment
- 9/80 Schedule
- Health Insurance
- Vision Insurance - 100% covered for Employees
- Dental Insurance - 100% covered for Employees
- Life Insurance - 100% covered by Swift, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
- 401k with company match
- Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December, and highly competitive PTO plans.
- 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.
- Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting.
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Swift Engineering is an innovation company with a 35-year history of design, engineering and build heritage in intelligent systems and advanced vehicles, including autonomous systems, helicopters, submarines, spacecraft, ground vehicles, robotics,...
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