System Engineer Actuation Systems

About This Role

Job Title: Systems Engineer – Actuation Systems

Department: Engineering

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Reporting To: Lead Systems Engineer / Chief Engineer

Job Purpose

The Systems Engineer – Actuation Systems is responsible for the design, development, integration, and validation of actuation systems across advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms. The role ensures that flight control, landing gear, payload, and subsystem actuators meet all performance, safety, and regulatory requirements. This position requires strong technical expertise, systems-level thinking, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to support the development of reliable, mission-capable UAV systems.

Key Responsibilities

System Architecture & Requirements Development

• Define and manage system-level requirements and performance specifications for actuation systems (flight control, landing gear, payload deployment).
• Develop system safety analyses, maintain interface control documents (ICDs), requirements traceability matrices, and system architecture diagrams.
• Prepare design evidence documents, including DDPs.
• Ensure design life-cycle management in line with relevant aerospace standards (e.g., ARP 4754).
• Collaborate closely with control systems, avionics, airframe, and software teams for seamless actuator integration.
• Ensure robust requirement definition, design processes, verification, and integration for custom-developed systems.
• Prepare system verification documentation and related DDPs.

Design Support & Integration

• Participate in the selection, integration, and configuration of electromechanical or hydraulic actuators.
• Support the integration of actuation systems across UAV platforms.
• Conduct trade-off studies for actuator sizing, type selection (rotary/linear), redundancy, and failure‑management strategies.
• Ensure subsystem requirements comply with platform constraints including power, control, thermal, and mechanical interface considerations.
• Develop System Safety Assessments, including FHA, FMEA, and PSA, in collaboration with safety engineering teams.

Validation, Testing & Compliance

• Develop Verification & Validation (V&V) plans, including simulation, laboratory, ground, and flight testing.
• Support execution and analysis of tests such as load tests, response time evaluations, life-cycle assessments, and environmental qualification (e.g., DO‑160, MIL‑STD‑810).
• Ensure compliance with relevant aerospace and defense standards including DO‑178C/DO‑254 (if applicable), ARP 4754, and ARP 4761.

Problem Solving & Engineering Support

• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action activities for actuator-related issues.
• Support hazard analysis, FMEA, and reliability assessments as part of the system safety process.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams to resolve technical challenges during production and integration.
• Support maintenance planning for actuation systems, including obsolescence management.
• Contribute to airworthiness and certification compliance activities.

Documentation & Cross-Functional Communication

• Generate and maintain detailed technical documentation including design descriptions, test reports, and compliance evidence.
• Participate in technical reviews, design reviews (PDR, CDR), and configuration audits.
• Communicate technical status, risks, and progress effectively across engineering and project teams.

Qualifications & Experience

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Systems Engineering (Required)
• Master’s Degree in a related field, particularly in actuation systems, flight controls, or robotics (Preferred)

Professional Experience

• Minimum 10+ years experience in aerospace or defense systems engineering, with at least 5 years working directly with actuation systems.
• Experience with UAVs, aircraft, missiles, or robotic systems focused on actuator integration and control.
• Familiarity with aerospace standards such as ARP 4754, ARP 4761, DO‑254, and MIL‑STD‑810.
• Experience with simulation tools, HIL testing, and flight-test data analysis.

Technical Skills

Strong knowledge of:

• Electromechanical and electrohydraulic actuators
• Servo control loops, feedback systems, and embedded control architectures
• Redundant and fail-operational actuation system designs
• Systems development life-cycle processes
• System safety, certification, and qualification processes
• Environmental qualification and EMI/EMC compliance
• Supplier technical management

Familiarity with:

• System modeling tools (MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, Amesim)
• CAD tools (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks)

Soft Skills

• Strong systems-thinking and attention to interface-level interactions
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and strong problem‑solving capability
• Clear communication skills for both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Team-oriented, able to lead technical discussions and reviews
• Comfortable working in a mission-driven, high‑confidentiality environment

Preferred Certifications

• INCOSE ASEP or CSEP (Preferred)
• Training/certification in actuation or control systems (Beneficial)
• Familiarity with AS9100D or ISO 9001 (Preferred)

Additional Requirements

• Eligibility for applicable defense/security clearance
• Willingness to travel for supplier coordination, testing, or technical support
• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus
• Willingness to relocate to the UAE