Sr. UAV Engineer

Overview

SRI’s Bright Ceramic Technologies (BCT) develops, applies, and commercializes advanced-material technologies, bringing together engineering, fabrication, and system integration at our Palo Alto, California facility. We are expanding our team to translate urgent DoW mission needs into fieldable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capabilities that support U.S. forces and approved allied partners.

We are seeking a hands-on Senior UAV Engineer to provide technical leadership throughout the design–build–integrate–test–fly–deliver cycle. This role combines engineering expertise, practical problem-solving, and small-team leadership to move capable, reliable systems from initial requirements through flight demonstration and delivery to operational users. You will evaluate vehicle designs, guide system-level integration, mentor engineers, and work with Government customers and end users to translate mission needs into executable engineering priorities.

This opportunity offers meaningful technical ownership, exposure to multiple projects and advanced technologies, and the ability to shape both the systems we deliver and the team developing them. Success means delivering capabilities that users can operate, maintain, and depend on—not simply completing a prototype demonstration.

This position is onsite in Palo Alto, California, with travel to remote flight-test locations and Government test sites.

Responsibilities

• Translate Government customer and end-user requirements into system requirements, engineering priorities, development plans, and measurable test objectives.

• Evaluate UAV designs and system-level tradeoffs using aerodynamic analysis, simulation, engineering judgment, and test evidence to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.

• Lead the selection and integration of avionics, communications, navigation, flight-control hardware, power systems, actuators, and ground-control systems.

• Lead and mentor a small engineering team through vehicle design, fabrication, assembly, autopilot programming and configuration, payload integration, and air-to-ground system integration while remaining actively involved in hands-on technical work.

• Develop concepts of operations in collaboration with Government customers and end users, ensuring that vehicle configurations, supporting systems, and test plans address intended mission needs.

• Plan and lead ground verification, flight-readiness reviews, and developmental flight testing, including UAV piloting and field support at remote locations and Government test sites.

• Resolve complex mechanical, electrical, and software integration issues; analyze flight-test data; and guide corrective actions and subsequent design iterations.

• Coordinate engineering drawings, prototype build plans, fabrication, and supplier activities with vendors and internal manufacturing teams to support repeatable builds and transition toward production.

• Establish and maintain disciplined configuration management, test documentation, and operating procedures so that design changes and delivered systems remain traceable to approved requirements.

• Guide modular vehicle and system configurations that accommodate approved allied partners’ avionics, electronics, communications equipment, and mission payloads.

• Take ownership of technical outcomes, communicate risks and tradeoffs early, and maintain accountability for flight safety, engineering rigor, team execution, and customer delivery.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline and at least 5 years of experience

• U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance

• Demonstrated experience developing and integrating UAVs or comparable aerospace systems, with responsibility spanning design, fabrication, ground testing, flight testing, and preparation for delivery.

• Deep understanding of aerodynamic design principles, stability and control, and simulation methods, supported by a strong working knowledge of mechanical design, structures, materials, and aircraft weight and balance.

• Hands-on experience building, assembling, troubleshooting, and flying UAVs or radio-controlled aircraft

• Experience selecting and integrating avionics, navigation, communications, power systems, payloads, and ground-control systems, including programming or configuring autopilots

• Experience with software engineering, scripting, or embedded systems sufficient to support aircraft integration, troubleshooting, configuration management, and test-data analysis

• Proficiency with mechanical prototyping, fabrication and assembly methods, and 3D CAD software; SolidWorks experience is preferred

• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor a small engineering team, make sound technical decisions under evolving requirements, and coordinate work across mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing disciplines

• Ability to communicate technical requirements, design rationale, test results, risks, and corrective actions clearly to engineers, program leadership, vendors, and customers

• Ability to perform hands-on laboratory, assembly, and outdoor flight-test activities, including aircraft setup, inspection, and recovery, with or without reasonable accommodation

• Willingness and ability to travel to remote locations and Government test sites

Desired skills:

• Current active Top Secret Clearance

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

• Active UAV or radio-controlled aircraft hobbyist experience, including independently designing, building, modifying, repairing, or flying aircraft.

• Relevant personal projects and build portfolios are encouraged

• Experience with fixed-wing UAVs, advanced-technology payloads, composite fabrication, rapid prototyping, or transitioning developmental aircraft into repeatable manufacturing

• Experience leading Government flight-test activities, collaborating directly with operational users, or developing concepts of operations and translating them into engineering and test requirements

• Experience managing technical interfaces and deliverables across subcontractors, suppliers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams

• Relevant active-duty military experience, including service in one of the following specialties: 15X, 15C, 15W, 15M/15E, 150U, NEC 8361, NEC 8364, AFSC 1U0X1, AFSC 11UX, MOS 7314, MOS 7316, or MOS 7315

The salary range is: $130,760-$173,260. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/. SRI will accept applications until the position is filled.

SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For almost 80 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.

Background Check

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

EOE/AA

SRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

At SRI

We value different identities, perspectives and experiences. An inclusive working environment that nurtures a culture of belonging strengthens our ability to create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future.

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Job Locations US-CA-Palo Alto

ID 2026-6545

Category Engineering

Position Type Full-Time

Worker Type On-Site