Mechanical Engineer – Drone Development, Design & Test

About Us:

Havoc is a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy. Its software-defined hardware approach powers military and commercial-grade autonomous systems across sea, air, and land to sense, decide, and act together in complex and contested environments. Havoc connects assets, enabling them to share information, adapt in real time, and continue operating even when communications are disrupted or denied. Havoc optimizes mission performance and minimizes human risk.

Havoc was founded in 2024 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Learn more at Havoc: All-Domain Collaborative Autonomy .

About the Role

HavocAI is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the technical maturation of Locust, our advanced unmanned aircraft system (UAS), as it transitions from a demonstrated prototype to a Department of Defense (DoD) fieldable, Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) platform.

This is a hands-on engineering leadership role where you'll drive airframe design for manufacture, structural analysis, and system-level integration while providing the program leadership necessary to keep the production effort on schedule and within budget.

You will serve as the primary technical authority for Locust's production readiness, working closely with manufacturing partners, government customers, and cross-functional engineering teams. Success in this role means delivering a robust, mission-ready aircraft that can withstand the demands of operational use while being reliably manufactured at production scale.

We are looking for an engineer who is equally comfortable designing parts in CAD, working with vendors and machinists, assembling prototypes, and getting into the field or test environment to understand why something failed.

This is not a purely analytical or desk-based engineering position. The ideal candidate has experience developing drones, UAVs, robotics, autonomous systems, or other lightweight electromechanical platforms and enjoys moving quickly between design and hardware.

Key Responsibilities

Design mechanical components, assemblies, structures, enclosures, mounts, and mechanisms for unmanned aerial systems

Develop concepts and detailed designs using 3D CAD

Own mechanical designs from initial requirements through prototype, test, iteration, and production release

Build and assemble prototype vehicles and subsystems

Work directly with machine shops, fabrication vendors, and suppliers to rapidly produce prototype hardware

Develop engineering drawings, tolerances, interfaces, and manufacturing documentation

Perform engineering calculations including structural, load, thermal, vibration, tolerance, and basic mechanical analysis

Design lightweight structures while balancing strength, stiffness, manufacturability, cost, and weight

Develop and execute mechanical test plans Conduct structural, vibration, environmental, durability, and system-level testing

Diagnose mechanical failures and rapidly implement design improvements

Support flight testing and vehicle-level integration

Work closely with electrical, embedded, autonomy, controls, manufacturing, and test engineers

Design for manufacturability, assembly, serviceability, and field repair

Participate directly in vehicle builds, troubleshooting, test campaigns, and engineering validation

Required Qualifications

BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline

3+ years of mechanical product development experience

Strong 3D CAD and mechanical design experience

Demonstrated experience taking hardware from concept through prototype and testing

Hands-on experience assembling, modifying, troubleshooting, and testing electromechanical systems

Strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals including materials, fasteners, tolerancing, structures, and manufacturing processes

Experience designing parts for CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, additive manufacturing, or similar fabrication processes

Experience developing test fixtures and executing mechanical validation testing

Ability to independently troubleshoot hardware failures and drive design changes

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience designing or developing UAVs, drones, UAS, aircraft, robotics, or autonomous vehicles

Experience with small or Group 1–3 unmanned aircraft

Experience with airframes, propulsion integration, payload integration, landing systems, or flight-control hardware

Experience with composite structures

Experience transitioning prototype designs into low-rate or production manufacturing

Why HavocAI

At HavocAI, you'll help build autonomous systems that solve real-world challenges in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. You'll work alongside exceptional engineers, move quickly, and see your work transition from prototype to production and ultimately into the hands of operators.

If you're excited about solving difficult engineering problems, owning critical technical decisions, and helping shape the future of autonomous systems, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits:

100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families

Life Insurance (Employer Paid)

Ability to participate in the companies 401k program (Matching)

Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum

Equity Package

Work / Home Office Stipend

Global Entry

16 Week Paid Parental Leave

Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

Our Values:

Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.

Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.

Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation.

Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.

Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care.

Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact.

HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.