Drone Engineer

You want to help build Europe’s resilience? You want to protect people and critical infrastructure – ultimately saving the lives of thousands?

You want to work at the frontier of high-performance autonomous systems?

Join us at CDDS to develop high-performance interceptor drones that protect Europe’s critical infrastructure.

CDDS (Counter-Drone Defense Systems) specializes in developing low-collateral kinetic interceptors designed to neutralize malicious drones. Our solutions are built for precision and safety, minimizing risk to surroundings while effectively countering unauthorized or threatening unmanned aerial systems. We work at the cutting edge of counter-drone technology, delivering reliable protection for critical assets and environments.

Tasks

Your Mission

We are looking for an experienced Drone Engineer who knows the intricacies of building high-performance multirotor systems. You will select, integrate, and tune propulsion systems and airframe components – turning prototype drones into reliable, field-ready interceptors to best meet the evolving needs of our customers. You'll play a key hands-on role in ensuring every build is optimized for reliability, performance, and precision.

Core Responsibilities

• Select and integrate motors, ESCs, propellers, and batteries for optimal thrust, efficiency, and flight dynamics
• Design and tune propulsion configurations for high-speed intercept profiles
• Integrate flight controllers, sensors (IMU, GPS, magnetometer), and compute modules into the airframe
• Conduct flight testing, log analysis, and PID/rate tuning to optimise flight performance
• Collaborate with mechanical and control engineers on airframe layout, weight distribution, and wiring
• Design for efficient assembly: select fasteners, connectors, and harnesses that enable fast, reliable production builds

Requirements

Required

• BSc or MSc in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or similar – with proven drone development experience
• Deep understanding of BLDC motors, ESCs, propellers, thrust curves, and propulsion optimisation
• Hands-on experience building, tuning, and flight-testing custom drones
• Familiarity with flight controllers (PX4, Betaflight, ArduPilot) and log analysis tools
• Strong mechanical integration skills: airframe assembly, weight distribution, vibration management, and fastener selection
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, high-ownership startup with long hours when the mission demands it
• A problem-solving mindset with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to work independently and communicate findings clearly within a team

Nice-to-Have

• FPV racing or competitive drone building experience
• Experience with high-speed or VTOL drone platforms
• Background in aerodynamics or propulsion system modelling (motor + propeller matching, thrust/drag trade-offs)
• Experience scaling drone production from prototypes to hundreds of units
• CAD skills (preferably SolidWorks) for airframe modifications

Benefits

Why CDDS

• Direct impact on mission-critical technology shaping Europe’s security landscape
• Fast-moving startup – fly what you build, the same week
• Work with a highly technical, ambitious, and hands-on team
• Real-world testing, deployments, and customer demonstrations
• Attractive compensation

Details

• Location: Bei Zürich Hardbrücke
• Start date: ASAP
• Environment: Rapidly growing deep-tech startup, high-impact mission