Senior Aero Mechanical Engineer

Description

WORK LOCATION:

Ottawa, CA

SALARY RANGE:  The anticipated salary range for this role is $115,000 to $135,000 CAD annually. This range reflects a good faith estimate based on the targeted level for the role and typical compensation benchmarks across Canada locations. Actual compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, geographical location and internal alignment.

SUMMARY
The Senior Aero-Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the design, development, and validation of complex mechanical systems and subsystems for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).

This role emphasizes practical, hands-on engineering over purely analytical or simulation-focused work. The engineer independently owns major subsystem designs—balancing performance, reliability, and manufacturability—and contributes to broader system architecture through technical input and design reviews.

The Senior Engineer plays a key role during prototype builds, test campaigns, and production transitions, helping resolve issues and drive designs to completion. They are recognized for their expertise in mechanical design and cross-functional coordination, improving designs through iteration and testing and refining designs based on real-world performance.

WHAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY DO
This is a hands‑on engineering role in a small, fast‑moving team. You will be expected to take ownership of small to medium mechanical design projects and carry them from concept through to prototype, test, and iteration. Work is highly practical and execution‑focused. A typical week might include CAD design, 3D printing or machining parts, assembling hardware, and testing systems in the lab or field.

We are not a large, process‑heavy organization. Engineers are expected to be self‑directed, comfortable working with incomplete requirements, and motivated to build and try ideas quickly. Projects often involve early‑stage concepts where requirements are evolving and creativity is required.

WHO YOU ARE
You enjoy building real hardware and seeing your designs work in practice. You are comfortable working across the full lifecycle of a product—design, fabrication, assembly, and testing—and prefer hands‑on problem solving over purely analytical work. Strong candidates will be able to point to projects they have personally built or significantly contributed to.

You are curious and proactive, capable of making progress when requirements are not fully defined. You are not waiting for detailed specifications—you are helping to discover what the right solution should be.

This role is well suited for engineers with experience in personal, academic, or professional projects involving robotics, UAVs, vehicles, or other electromechanical systems.

This role is not primarily focused on analysis‑only work or highly specialized modeling. Candidates seeking roles centered on simulation, research, or narrowly scoped analysis may find this position is not the best fit.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The following job functions are a basic requirement but are not limited to and may be assigned other duties.

Own the design, modeling, and analysis of major mechanical and structural subsystems for UAS.

Perform and review tolerance analysis, structural analysis (FEA), and materials selection.

Design and fabricate prototype components using rapid prototyping methods (e.g., 3D printing, CNC machining).

Support hands‑on build, integration, and modification of hardware systems during development and testing.

Oversee design documentation, drawing release, and configuration management activities.

Iterate on designs based on test results, field feedback, and evolving requirements.

Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (mechanical, electrical, and software) to ensure cohesive system integration.

Support prototype builds, resolving issues related to manufacturability, fit and performance.

Develop and execute test plans to validate structural integrity and system performance.

Participate in and contribute to design reviews (CoDR, PDR, CDR), incorporating feedback into designs.

Support production readiness and quality verification for new and existing products.

Mentor junior engineers and CAD…