Avionics & Drone Mechanical Engineer
🚀 Join SE3 Labs as Avionics & UAV Mechanical Design Engineer
Own the physical integration of our autonomy platform into drones, payload and ground systems. Your work defines the fieldability, haptics and performance of our core product.
About SE3
SE3 Labs is building Spatial AI by combining 3D computer vision with large language models (LLMs). We believe the ability to reason about and act within physical space is foundational to unlocking the next generation of automation, from construction to smart infrastructure, and ultimately, defense.
Now, we’re building the physical platform to bring Spatial AI to life. That means high-performance, real-world robotic systems (starting with UAVs) and we’re looking for a skilled, hands-on engineer who’s ready to bring these machines into the real world.
About the Role
As Avionics & Drone Mechanical Design Engineer, you’ll design the mechanisms, enclosures and integration of our on-board systems into various UAV platforms. From concept trade-off to CAD to flight test and on to production introduction, you’ll be in charge of bringing our electronics, airframes and active payloads together into flying reality.
You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues working on electronics, software, and AI together pushing to deliver vertically integrated and well-balanced solutions. Mechanical integration and mechanisms will be your domain, and you’ll be trusted to engineer it right.
What You’ll Work On
Requirements & Concepts: Translate mission-needs into hardware requirements and trade-off design concepts to meet them
Design & Engineer: Design, size and refine our connection and release mechanisms, avionics enclosures (including thermal management), package and integration into airframes as well as ground systems like charging, control and launch platforms
Prototype & Iterate: Build, rework, and test hardware with speed and precision, in simulation, test rigs and in flight
Validate & Field-Test: Analyze and improve designs via simulation and real-world testing up until and including exercises with partners and armed forces
Document with Purpose: Capture requirements, trade-offs, design rationale, test results and procedures to make your work the lasting foundation of our tech
Your Profile
B.Sc. or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a related field
You bring 2+ years of hands-on experience in hardware development, including mechanism design from concept to tested (sub-) system
You’re highly proficient in 3D modelling (CAD) and creating production-quality drawings
You’re familiar with selection and sizing of structural elements, fasteners and interfaces
You bring a solid understanding of kinematics and electro-mechanical systems
You’ve independently prototyped and tested mechanisms and seen them through refinement cycles into production
You speak fluent English; German is a strong plus
Most importantly, you’re structured, fast-moving, and mission-driven. You don’t wait for perfection. You iterate until it works. You love building things that last.
Especially Valued Bonus Skills
Experience in designing lightweight electronic enclosures for harsh conditions
Knowledge in production technologies suitable for lightweight UAV systems
Thermal design and analysis for compact electronics or similar systems
Hardware testing & qualification experience (ideally MIL-STD)
Skilled in designing fixtures and test-rigs
Familiarity with light UAVs or aircraft systems
Perks & Benefits
Real Ownership: Get equity early, real stock options to participate directly in SE3’s growth
Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high-quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you
31 Paid Days Off: 30 vacation days plus your birthday off
Well-being Access: Free membership to gyms, yoga, and wellness through EGYM Wellpass
Team Offsites: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy and Greece
Mentorship: Work closely with experienced engineers and get paired with a professional mentor to support your growth
Our Process
Intro Call (20 min): Let’s get to know each other (conducted by Michael, our Chief of Staff)
Technical Interview (60 min): Diving deeper into your experience, skills and engineering thought process with practical examples (with Lukas, our Hardware Lead)
Team Dinner/Lunch: See if it’s a culture fit on both sides