Aircraft Design Lead

About Remote Robotic Systems

Help build the next generation of uncrewed aircraft operating at the intersection of aerospace, robotics, and defence technology.

Remote Robotic Systems (RRS) is a Canadian robotics and defence-tech company helping organizations deploy enterprise-grade drones, uncrewed aircraft, robotic platforms, sensors, payloads, and remote operations technologies for mission‑critical applications. Our solutions support customers across defence, public safety, security, industrial, infrastructure, energy, and government sectors.

Through our Airmetal team, we are developing advanced uncrewed aircraft systems designed to operate where most aircraft can't: extreme cold, icing, wind, and remote locations with no runway, no hangar, and no second chances.

We're a small, fast‑moving engineering team that values ownership, technical depth, practical problem solving, and the ability to turn ambitious ideas into working hardware.

Airmetal is looking for an Aircraft Design Lead to own the design and performance of a novel UAV airframe from concept through testing and flight validation.

This role sits at the technical centre of the aircraft program, owning the configuration decisions that influence everything from aerodynamics and structures to manufacturing, packaging, deployment, and flight performance. You'll lead both the aerodynamic and structural aspects of the aircraft, helping solve complex aero‑structural challenges where the behaviour of the aircraft changes under load.

Working closely with manufacturing, avionics, propulsion, and test teams, you'll translate analysis into real‑world performance through wind tunnel testing, flight trials, and continuous design refinement. You'll also provide technical leadership for a small engineering team, helping drive major design decisions and ensuring the aircraft can be designed, tested, manufactured, and ultimately scaled successfully.

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical depth with practical engineering judgement. Someone who trusts data, embraces testing, and can guide technical decisions while mentoring a team in a fast‑paced aerospace and defence‑tech environment.

• Own the overall airframe configuration and technical direction of the aircraft.
• Lead structural design activities including load paths, materials selection, joints, packaging, and deployment mechanisms.
• Characterize and improve aero‑structural behaviour across the flight envelope.
• Own airfoil, wing, stability, control, and performance analysis activities.
• Conduct aerodynamic analysis using CFD and supporting analytical methods.
• Define technical interfaces between airframe, avionics, propulsion, manufacturing, and flight controls systems.

• Plan and execute wind tunnel and flight test campaigns.
• Develop test plans, instrumentation approaches, and validation methodologies.
• Correlate aerodynamic and structural models against measured test data.
• Analyze and validate aircraft stability, control, and performance across the flight envelope.
• Translate test results into design improvements and engineering decisions.
• Support aircraft performance, airworthiness, and future certification activities.

• Provide technical direction and mentorship to a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Lead technical reviews and major design decisions.
• Partner with manufacturing, materials, avionics, and propulsion teams to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, and testable.
• Help establish engineering standards, design practices, and technical review processes.
• Drive complex engineering problems to clear, data‑backed decisions.

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• Several years of aircraft, UAV, or aerostructure design experience with ownership through analysis, testing, and flight validation.
• Strong background in both structural design and applied aerodynamics.
• Experience with aero‑structural problems, flexible structures, or deforming geometry.
• Deep CFD expertise and the engineering judgement to interpret and validate…