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Captain’s Message The aerospace industry is among the fastest-growing industries worldwide. In 2025, the market size was estimated at 402.75 billion USD and is projected to double by 2034.

At Queen’s Aerospace Design Team (QADT), we are dedicated to pushing boundaries with the development of high performance & autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for national and international competitions in Canada, Europe, and the United States. With the continued growth in industry aerospace applications in recent years, QADT has seen an unparalleled expansion, and our dedicated team of more than 150 undergraduate students has not disappointed.

This year, the AEAC technical team developed 2 UAVs from the ground up to compete at the AEAC 2026 student competition hosted in Ottawa. This included a 3D printed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone to map urban fires, as well as a heavy-lift quadcopter designed to autonomously extinguish fires using a water gun. While in parallel, the AIAA technical team developed a fully carbon fiber fixed wing aircraft optimized for long range cargo flights and banner towing.

Alongside the technical teams, the QADT research branch wrote two research papers for submission to the IMAV conference paper call and the VFS student design competition. Respectively, these papers focused on the application of compliant airfoils on efficiency gains in flight and the conversion of a tilt rotor aircraft to a hybrid electric engine to prove the feasibility of electrifying the aerospace industry!

QADT offers a unique opportunity for development and growth for students in any discipline,



including gaining technical experience in aero-mechanics, Electrical, and Software, and the prospect to conduct research in a variety of unique fields, as well as the chance to gain experience in business and management. QADT is looking to continue its rapid growth and expansion by taking on like-minded individuals to not just continue the development of advanced drone technology but push the boundaries of what student teams are capable of.

We eagerly await your application.

‘Aviation is proof that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.’

— Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI flying ace

Erin Payne

Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering ‘28

Purujit Kantiya

Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering ‘28

The Avionics team is responsible for the electronic systems that help QADT’s SAE Aero aircraft operate reliably and collect useful data during testing and competition. From onboard sensors and communications to flight controller and companion computer integration, Avionics works closely with Software, Testing & Propulsion, Structures, and Aerodynamics to ensure all aircraft systems work together.

For the 2026–2027 SAE Aero competition, Avionics will focus on integrating onboard sensors with the flight controller, incorporating the companion computer,



and ensuring mission and flight data is collected accurately and reliably. The team will also support system-level integration and testing throughout the aircraft design process.

As a member of Avionics, you will have the opportunity to design, build, program, and test electronic systems used on QADT’s aircraft. Projects may include working with sensors, microcontrollers, communications systems, flight-test data, and onboard electronics, as well as troubleshooting, ground testing, and documentation. No previous avionics experience is required, with projects ranging from beginner-friendly tasks to more advanced technical work as you develop your skills.

A member of the Avionics sub-team can expect to gain skills in the areas of:

- Reading electronic schematics and datasheets
- PCB and PDB Design
- design
- Microcontrollers and embedded programming
- Sensors and data collection
- Hands on Testing, troubleshooting, and problem-solving
- Communication systems and aircraft electronics
- Data analysis and flight testing
- Teamwork and working across different engineering disciplines

Application & Interview Details

We do not look at your resume as a deciding factor. We weigh it the least compared to your written application and interview.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: September 19th, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)

Interviews will occur in person after the deadline. We are happy to provide accommodation for these interviews, so please reach out to us and let us know how we can make the process more accessible for you!

Contact Information

Please email any questions or concerns to aero @engsoc.queensu.ca or text @queensaero on Instagram!

📌 Queen's Aerospace Design Team (QADT) - Avionics Team Member (Canada)
🏢 EngSoc
📍 Canada