AirQ is looking for an experienced Head of Mechanical Department to lead our mechanical design engineering function and drive the technical quality, producibility, and on-time delivery of mechanical design outputs for our unmanned aerial systems.
The role will oversee mechanical design activities covering airframe structures, aerodynamic surfaces, mechanisms, and mechanical installations, from concept development through detailed design, design release, prototyping, and early production support.
The successful candidate will also be responsible for building the department’s engineering capabilities, standards, processes, and team structure.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Management
- Plan, prioritise, and allocate department workload against programme milestones.
- Report design progress, risks, resource requirements, and technical issues to executive management.
- Set objectives, conduct performance reviews, and establish development plans for department engineers.
- Support recruitment and onboarding within approved headcount.
- Build department capability in surface modelling, composite design, mechanisms, and design-for-manufacture.
Design & Technical Oversight
- Own the technical quality of all mechanical engineering outputs, including 3D models, aerodynamic surface geometry, structural layouts, mechanisms, technical drawings, and BOMs.
- Lead design reviews at concept, preliminary, critical, and release stages.
- Approve and release drawings and engineering changes within the department’s scope.
- Direct trade studies covering structural concepts, materials, and composite solutions.
- Maintain mass and centre-of-gravity budgets for each platform.
- Resolve design and manufacturing issues during prototyping and early production.
Standards & Engineering Processes
- Define and enforce CAD methodologies, drawing standards, part numbering, and design-release workflows within the PDM/PLM system.
- Ensure appropriate design verification prior to release, including tolerance stack-ups, fits, and design-for-assembly checks.
- Maintain configuration control and full traceability of released designs and engineering changes.
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Coordinate closely with aerodynamics/CFD, structural analysis/FEA, avionics, manufacturing, and flight-test teams to close design and development loops.
- Provide technical specifications and drawing packages to procurement.
- Assess supplier capabilities for machined, fabricated, and composite components.
- Support airworthiness and certification documentation as required by individual programmes.
Authority & Accountability
- Approve and release engineering drawings, models, and engineering changes within department scope.
- Provide sign-off at mechanical design gates and technical reviews.
- Assign department resources and approve department task plans.
- Recommend hiring, promotion, and termination within the department.
- Stop the release of any design that does not meet AirQ engineering standards.
Qualifications & Experience
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Aeronautical Engineering; MSc preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in mechanical design engineering, including at least 3 years in an engineering leadership role.
- Expert-level experience with SolidWorks, CATIA, or Siemens NX, including complex surface modelling.
- Strong command of technical drawing standards.
- Proven design experience with composite structures and design-for-manufacture (DFM).
- Working knowledge of FEA and CFD workflows and the ability to effectively collaborate with analysis engineers.
- Fluent English, minimum C1 level, both written and spoken.
Desirable:
- Experience in UAV, aerospace, aeronautical, or other advanced product development.
- Experience with PDM/PLM and configuration management systems, such as Teamcenter or Windchill.
- Exposure to UAS airworthiness and certification frameworks, including GCAA and/or EASA.
- Familiarity with prototyping and manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, additive manufacturing, and composite lay-up.
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a technically strong and hands-on engineering leader who can combine mechanical design expertise, people leadership, product development, and manufacturing understanding to build a high-performing mechanical engineering function.
If you are passionate about aerospace, UAV systems, advanced mechanical design, and leading engineering teams, we would like to hear from you.
