R&D Technician – Mechanical

Role overview

Prototype build and assembly

• Assemble airframes and structures from drawings and BOMs, including fuselages, wings, tails, landing gear, payload bays, and hatches.
• Bond parts with structural adhesives, control bond processes, and record adhesive batches and cure data.
• Perform carbon and glass fiber composite lay-up, vacuum bagging, trimming, sanding, filling, insert potting, and repairs.
• Install fasteners, mechanisms, control linkages, propulsion parts, fuel systems, and cooling components.
• Assemble and align launcher rails, carriages, brakes, frames, transport cases, and ground support equipment.
• Make simple parts, jigs, and fixtures using basic machining and 3D printing.

Testing and field support

• Measure and record weight and center of gravity, add ballast, rig control surfaces, and check alignment and symmetry.
• Conduct fuel leak tests, balance propellers, and inspect engine installations before ground runs.
• Prepare and support structural, functional, and vibration testing, including rigs, loads, instrumentation, and records.
• Support ground runs and flight tests with assembly, pre-flight checks, launch and recovery preparation, and post-flight inspection.
• Measure parts with precision tools and report non-conformances.

Maintenance and production transfer

• Maintain R&D prototypes and ground equipment through inspections, lubrication, repairs, and modifications.
• Keep prototype configuration records, including build state, modifications, replaced parts, weight and CG, flight hours, and defects.
• Maintain stocks of fasteners, adhesives, composites, consumables, and spares; monitor shelf life and notify procurement before shortages.
• Build pilot production units with assembly staff and report design features that hinder build, alignment, or inspection.
• Make assembly and bonding jigs, drilling templates, and inspection gauges with engineers.
• Write and validate illustrated work instructions; train production staff and assess their work.
• Support production technical issues and non-conformance investigations, and share lessons with R&D.

Workshop, safety, and quality

• Keep the workshop, tools, and machines clean, safe, and organized using 5S practices.
• Follow safety rules for machinery, resins, adhesives, solvents, fuels, composite dust, and propellers, and use appropriate PPE.
• Keep torque tools and measuring equipment calibrated and in good condition; follow quality procedures and record material batches and inspection results.

Qualifications and experience

• Diploma, associate degree, or technical certificate in mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, mechatronics, or aircraft maintenance.
• At least 3 years of hands-on experience in mechanical assembly, composite work, or aircraft maintenance.
• UAV, aerospace, defense, motorsport, or marine composites experience is preferred.
• Aircraft maintenance licence or military aircraft maintenance experience is an advantage.
• Experience training others or writing work instructions is an advantage.
• The available description begins a technical skills section with the ability to read engineering drawings, including tolerances and basic GD&T, and work from BOMs and 3D models; the remaining section is truncated.