Lead Mechanical Engineer

Lead Mechanical Engineer

Auterion

Munich, Germany

As a Lead Mechanical Engineer, you will join our interdisciplinary hardware engineering team and play a key role in driving the design and development of next-generation drone platforms. You will take ownership of mechanical systems ranging from cooling solutions to complete airframes, guiding designs from initial concept through prototyping to mass production.

As part of a cross-functional team, you will develop advanced systems such as interceptor and reconnaissance drones with integrated visual navigation, as well as quadcopters for defense applications.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Own mechanical designs from early-stage concept development through large scale manufacturing;
• Lead on the design, development, and optimization of mechanical systems for aerial, ground and maritime robotic platforms;
• Generate and review detailed CAD models, 2D drawings, tolerance analyses, and mechanical simulations (thermal, structural, vibration);
• Select and integrate components with multidisciplinary teams (electrical, software, systems);
• Validate mechanical designs under real-world and lab environments;
• Work with manufacturing teams and suppliers to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM), cost-efficiency, and production scalability;
• Document and communicate technical findings, test results, and project updates across internal and external stakeholders;
• Coach and mentor junior engineers to achieve technical excellence and develop best practices within the team.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field;
• 7+ years of industry experience in mechanical design, preferably in robotics, drones, aerospace, or high-performance mechatronic systems;
• Previous experience in a technical leadership role is a plus;
• Proficiency with CAD tools and PDM/PLM systems, preferably Onshape or Solidworks;
• Strong experience in mechanical design fundamentals: materials, manufacturing processes, thermal management, structural analysis, and kinematics;
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, assembly, and mechanical testing;
• Familiarity with design for environmental constraints (IP rating, vibration, temperature, etc.) typical in drone and aerospace environments;
• Experience collaborating in cross-functional hardware/software teams;
• Excellent problem-solving, communication (English), and project management skills;
• EU citizenship required.