Fixed-Wing UAV Design Engineer – Airframe & Mechanical Systems

Fixed-Wing UAV Design Engineer – Airframe & Mechanical Systems
📍 [Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu] | Full-Time
We are looking for an experienced Fixed-Wing UAV Design Engineer to design and develop lightweight, robust, and production-ready UAV airframes and mechanical systems.
The role will focus on composite airframe design, mould/tooling design, critical mechanical interfaces, modular airframe architecture, and payload integration, working closely with Aerodynamics, Composites, Avionics, Manufacturing, and Flight Test teams.
Key Responsibilities
Design and develop fixed-wing UAV airframes, including fuselage, wings, empennage, control surfaces, hatches, and internal structures.
Design composite structures using CFRP/GFRP, sandwich panels, foam/honeycomb cores, and bonded assemblies.
Optimise airframes for weight, strength, stiffness, aerodynamic requirements, manufacturability, and serviceability.
Design composite moulds, master patterns, assembly fixtures, bonding fixtures, and manufacturing tooling.
Develop critical mechanical interfaces such as wing-fuselage joints, quick-release mechanisms, locking systems, hinges, control linkages, landing interfaces, and structural connectors.
Design modular airframe architectures for rapid assembly, transportation, maintenance, and field replacement.
Develop mechanical integration solutions for modular payloads, EO/IR systems, sensors, antennas, avionics, batteries, and mission equipment.
Ensure payload integration considers CG, structural loads, vibration isolation, accessibility, thermal requirements, and cable routing.
Perform GD&T, tolerance stack-up, structural calculations, mass/CG analysis, and design reviews.
Work closely with the Composite Fabrication Team to take designs from CAD → mould/tooling → prototype → assembly → flight testing → production.
Support prototype builds, ground testing, flight testing, failure analysis, and iterative design improvements.
Prepare complete 3D CAD, manufacturing drawings, BOMs, assembly drawings, and engineering documentation.
Requirements
Bachelor's/Master's degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechanical, or related Engineering.
3+ years of hands-on experience in UAV, aerospace, or aircraft mechanical/airframe design.
Strong experience in fixed-wing UAV design and composite airframe structures.
Strong proficiency in CATIA / SolidWorks
Experience with composite mould/tooling design and composite manufacturing processes.
Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance stack-up, structural joints, fasteners, bonding, machining, and manufacturing processes.
Experience designing mechanical interfaces, modular assemblies, and payload integration systems.
Good understanding of aircraft loads, weight & balance, CG, structural design, vibration, and DFM/DFA.

Work arrangement
No