AIRBOTS Defense Systems designs and builds unmanned aircraft systems in Toronto. We're hiring a Lead Engineer to be the technical owner of one of our aircraft programs.
This is a whole-vehicle role. You'll be accountable for the aircraft as a system: airframe and structures, propulsion and power, avionics, communications, payload integration, and the embedded flight software that ties it together. Embedded software is one workstream among several, not the job.
You'll set the architecture, own the trade-offs between endurance, payload, weight, and cost, and stay with the aircraft through build, bench test, and flight test until it does what it was specified to do. You'll lead a multidisciplinary team of twelve engineers and technicians.
The role works across both of our Toronto sites. Engineering and integration are based downtown; build, test, and production are in North York. Expect to move between the two regularly.
What you'll do Own the whole-aircraft architecture and the technical roadmap for the program
Maintain the requirements baseline, flow requirements down to subsystem owners, and hold the interfaces between them
Own the system-level budgets — mass, power, thermal, link margin, endurance — and keep them honest as the design evolves
Arbitrate trade-offs when a subsystem optimum conflicts with the vehicle optimum
Lead design reviews from concept through PDR and CDR, and enforce configuration control
Own the verification and validation strategy: component test, hardware- and software-in-the-loop, ground runs, environmental and structural qualification,



and structured flight test campaigns
Lead flight test planning, safety review, and post-flight data analysis, and drive anomaly investigations to root cause
Design for manufacture and drive the transition from prototype builds to repeatable production
Select and qualify vendors for long-lead and critical components, and own those technical relationships
Lead, mentor, and grow the engineering team, and help hire into it
Translate program status, technical risk, and trade-offs into clear terms for leadership, customers, and regulators
What we're looking for Degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering, or an equivalent practical background
Eight or more years in aircraft, UAS, robotics, or comparably complex electromechanical development, including at least three years leading a technical team
Demonstrated ownership of a vehicle or complex system taken from concept through flight or field deployment, ideally into production
Solid systems engineering fundamentals: requirements management, interface control, budget tracking, verification planning, configuration management
Working fluency across disciplines,



enough to review the work credibly even outside your specialty — aerodynamics and structures, electric propulsion and battery systems, avionics and harnessing, embedded flight software (C/C++ on an RTOS, PX4 or ArduPilot), and RF links and command and control
Direct flight test experience, including test planning, safety review, and data-driven anomaly investigation
Familiarity with Transport Canada RPAS regulations under CARs Part IX
Proficiency with SolidWorks, FEA and CFD tools, and PLM-based configuration management
Eligible to work in Canada and eligible to obtain a Government of Canada security clearance and Controlled Goods Program registration
Nice to have Fixed-wing VTOL or hybrid transition configurations
Composite design and manufacturing, including layup and tooling
Qualification to MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461
Exposure to DO-178C, DO-254, or ARP4754A, or work within an AS9100 quality system
Experience achieving a type certificate or equivalent airworthiness approval
Existing security clearance
RPAS pilot certification or equivalent operational experience
What we offer Base salary of $80,000 to $120,000 CAD depending on experience
Relocation support
Annual learning and conference budget
Four weeks of vacation plus company holidays
Ownership of an entire aircraft program rather than a slice of one
AIRBOTS Defense Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive team.

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📌 Lead Engineer (Ontario)
🏢 AIRBOTS
📍 Ontario