Hardware Design and Robotics Engineer

Are you an experienced Hardware Design Engineer looking for a role where you can design, build, test and improve real autonomous systems? Are you looking to make your mark within a creative and ambitious technology company that is expanding its product development division? Drone Defence Services Ltd is looking for a practical and capable Hardware Design and Robotics Engineer to join our product development team. This is a hands-on engineering role supporting our interceptor programme and wider robotics portfolio.

You will work across concept development, mechanical and electrical design, prototyping, system integration, test and validation. This is not a production assembly role. It is suited to an engineer who enjoys turning early ideas into profitable, robust and deployable products. Drone Defence develops advanced technology to detect, track and counter unauthorised drones, while providing the airspace intelligence needed to enable safer drone operations. This is an opportunity to contribute directly to the next generation of autonomous aerial and robotic systems.

Location
We are headquartered in Retford, Nottinghamshire, with good access from the A1 motorway and rail connections to London and the North.

Working Hours
This is a full-time, office-based role, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. We believe complex engineering challenges are best solved collaboratively and in person. Flexible working may be considered where objectives are being met and communication remains strong.

Salary
£40,000 to £55,000 per year, depending on experience, capability and impact. The higher end of the range is intended for candidates able to take substantial technical ownership, work independently and make a material contribution to programme delivery.

Responsibilities and Duties
You will work within the product development team to design, develop, test and refine hardware for autonomous aerial systems and wider robotic applications. Specific duties include:

• Supporting the development of advanced interceptor and robotic systems from initial concept through prototype, validation and production release.
• Designing mechanical and electromechanical assemblies, including airframes, enclosures, structural components, brackets, payload mounts, cable routing and protective housings.
• Developing and maintaining 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, assembly instructions and design records.
• Integrating propulsion, power distribution, batteries, motors, actuators, sensors, cameras, communications equipment, telemetry and flight control hardware.
• Producing prototypes using 3D printing, laser cutting, workshop fabrication and external suppliers where appropriate.
• Designing test fixtures, jigs and rigs to support development, verification and repeatable production testing.
• Carrying out structured fault finding, root cause analysis and design improvement across mechanical, electrical and integrated systems.
• Supporting system integration, ground testing, field trials and flight testing.
• Working closely with embedded systems, software, operations and production colleagues to ensure hardware designs are practical, reliable and manufacturable.
• Applying design for manufacture, design for assembly, design for test and design for maintainability principles.
• Managing engineering changes in a controlled manner, maintaining accurate revision control and ensuring that production documentation remains current.
• Evaluating emerging technologies and identifying practical opportunities to improve product performance, reliability, manufacturability or cost.
• Supporting occasional customer demonstrations, deployments, technical reviews and trials within the United Kingdom and internationally.

Experience, Skills and Knowledge
The successful candidate will ideally have at least two years of relevant professional experience in product development, robotics, aerospace, electronics, mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline. You should be able to demonstrate:

• Strong practical engineering ability and a genuine interest in building and testing hardware.
• Experience of 3D CAD, ideally SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or an equivalent professional package.
• Experience designing mechanical parts, assemblies, enclosures, mounts, structures or similar hardware.
• Understanding of integrated electromechanical systems, including low voltage power, batteries, motors, actuators, sensors, wiring and communications hardware.
• Experience producing clear engineering drawings, bills of materials, assembly instructions and test records.
• Practical prototype development experience, including 3D printing, basic workshop processes and working with external fabricators or manufacturers.
• A structured approach to fault finding, test, validation and root cause analysis.
• Ability to move efficiently from a broad requirement or concept to a testable prototype.
• Good judgement, attention to detail and the ability to balance innovation with engineering discipline.
• Ability to estimate work, plan activities and deliver to agreed priorities and timescales.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable but not essential:

• Experience of UAVs, autonomous aerial systems, robotics, mobile platforms or defence related technology.
• Experience of flight controllers and autopilot systems, including Pixhawk, ArduPilot, PX4 or equivalent.
• A current CAA General Visual Line of Sight Certificate, known as a GVC, or the aptitude and willingness to obtain one.
• Practical experience flying, building, repairing or modifying unmanned aircraft.
• Experience with PCB design, electronics development or embedded systems integration.
• Familiarity with Python, C, C++, Linux, ROS, telemetry systems or low level communications protocols.
• Awareness of RF, GNSS, cameras, radar, computer vision or sensor fusion technologies for aircraft tracking.
• Experience of design for manufacture, supplier engagement and supporting small production runs.
• A full United Kingdom driving licence.

What We Are Looking For
You will be someone who enjoys solving difficult technical problems and takes pride in delivering products that work in the real world. You should be self-motivated, dependable and comfortable taking ownership of defined areas of work. You will be expected to keep colleagues informed, identify risks early and contribute positively to a fast-moving engineering environment. We are particularly interested in engineers who combine sound technical judgement with creativity and practical ability. You do not need to know every technology on day one, but you must be willing to learn quickly and apply that learning effectively.

Drone Defence is expanding its product development division over the coming months. This role offers substantial scope to develop technical ownership, take responsibility for major subsystems and progress into a senior engineering or technical leadership position as the company grows. You will have the opportunity to work on products that move rapidly from early concept through field trial and into operational deployment.

Further Information
Occasional travel may be required for demonstrations, development trials, customer deployments and technical reviews. An SC level security clearance may be required. Candidates must already hold, or be capable of obtaining, United Kingdom SC clearance. Applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom.