Senior Systems Engineering Lead

About the role

Imagine being technical backbone behind Destinus’ unmanned aerial vehicles, owning the system end-to-end and setting the technical direction that turns bold concepts into flight-ready reality. The Senior Systems Engineer is the technical owner of major sub-systems in our UAVs. This role leads the end-to-end technical execution of major sub-system UAV modifications, from early concept and requirements definition through detailed design, prototype manufacturing, system integration, testing, and flight qualification. This position requires strong hands-on technical background, proven leadership in complex aerospace programs, and a clear focus on results, quality, and delivery timelines. The position reports directly into the Chief Engineer for the project.

At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.

Sub-system Technical Ownership

• Own subsystem-level technical decisions, trade-offs, and design rationale.

• Ensure coherence across UAV subsystems and maintain system architecture and interfaces.

• Own modifications from start to finish, ensuring that they make their way into production and operation.

Requirements & Vehicle Design

• Lead subsystem requirements definition and management.

• Translate mission, customer, and regulatory needs into verifiable technical requirements.

• Guide aerodynamic design and flight performance, mechanical design and structural sizing, materials selection.

• Drive system-level optimization for performance, weight, cost, reliability, and manufacturability.

Hands-on Engineering, Prototyping & Manufacturing

• Stay directly involved in prototype manufacturing and assembly.

• Apply strong Design for Manufacturing and Assembly principles.

• Lead prototype builds for structures, avionics, control and EWIS.

• Ensure designs reflect manufacturability, tolerances, and production feedback

Integration, Testing & Flight Campaigns

• Support system integration across all UAV subsystems.

• Lead continuous integration, SITL and HITL efforts.

• Define and oversee ground and flight test plans.

• Actively support and participate in flight test campaigns, ensuring safe execution and rapid technical feedback loops.

• Lead anomaly investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.

Project Execution & Delivery

• Ensure technical execution meets quality standards and delivery milestones.

• Identify and mitigate technical risks early.

• Maintain strong focus on results, deadlines, and engineering excellence.

• Support program planning with realistic schedules and technical estimates.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team.

• Establish engineering standards and best practices.

• Collaborate closely with program management, manufacturing, operations, and partners.

What You’ll Need

• Minimum 5 years of experience in senior engineering roles within UAV or aerospace development programs.

• Proven track record as technical lead, system engineer or vehicle architect on complex UAV projects.

• Demonstrable hands-on experience across the full UAV development lifecycle: design → build → test → fly.

• Deep technical expertise in:

• System requirements definition and management

• UAV and aircraft design

• Aerodynamics and flight mechanics

• Mechanical design and structural analysis

• System architecture definition

• Integration of avionics, propulsion, payloads, and control systems

• Ground and flight testing

• Strong understanding of manufacturing-driven design and prototype iteration.

• Experience working in high-technology, fast-paced, results-oriented environments.

Who You Are

You bring hands-on experience navigating airworthiness, certification, and regulatory frameworks, and you understand what it takes to move UAV systems from concept to compliant, flight-ready platforms. You have worked with fixed-wing, VTOL, or hybrid UAV configurations and know the technical and operational trade-offs that come with each architecture.