Senior Systems Engineering Lead

Job description

# Senior Systems Engineering Lead > Destinus · Munich, Germany (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-06-12 **Workplace:** hybrid **Department:** R&D & Engineering ## Description **About the role** Imagine being technical backbone behind Destinus’ unmanned aerial vehicles, owning the system end-to-end and setting the technical direction that turns bold concepts into flight-ready reality. The Senior Systems Engineer is the technical owner of major sub-systems in our UAVs. This role leads the end-to-end technical execution of major sub-system UAV modifications, from early concept and requirements definition through detailed design, prototype manufacturing, system integration, testing, and flight qualification. This position requires strong hands-on technical background, proven leadership in complex aerospace programs, and a clear focus on results, quality, and delivery timelines. The position reports directly into the Chief Engineer for the project. At **Destinus**, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. **Destinus** partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations. **What You´ll Do** **Sub-system Technical Ownership** - Own subsystem-level technical decisions, trade-offs, and design rationale. - Ensure coherence across UAV subsystems and maintain system architecture and interfaces. - Own modifications from start to finish, ensuring that they make their way into production and operation. **Requirements & Vehicle Design** - Lead subsystem requirements definition and management. - Translate mission, customer, and regulatory needs into verifiable technical requirements. - Guide aerodynamic design and flight performance, mechanical design and structural sizing, materials selection. - Drive system-level optimization for performance, weight, cost, reliability, and manufacturability. **Hands-on Engineering, Prototyping & Manufacturing** - Stay directly involved in prototype manufacturing and assembly. - Apply strong Design for Manufacturing and Assembly principles. - Lead prototype builds for structures, avionics, control and EWIS. - Ensure designs reflect manufacturability, tolerances, and production feedback **Integration, Testing & Flight Campaigns** - Support system integration across all UAV subsystems. - Lead continuous integration, SITL and HITL efforts. - Define and oversee ground and flight test plans. - Actively support and participate in flight test campaigns, ensuring safe execution and rapid technical feedback loops. - Lead anomaly investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions. **Project Execution & Delivery** - Ensure technical execution meets quality standards and delivery milestones. - Identify and mitigate technical risks early. - Maintain strong focus on results, deadlines, and engineering excellence. - Support program planning with realistic schedules and technical estimates. **Team Leadership & Collaboration** - Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team. - Establish engineering standards and best practices. - Collaborate closely with program management, manufacturing, operations, and partners. ## Requirements **What You’ll Need** - Minimum 5 years of experience in senior engineering roles within UAV or aerospace development programs. - Proven track record as technical lead, system engineer or vehicle architect on complex UAV projects. - Demonstrable hands-on experience across the full UAV development lifecycle: design → build → test → fly. - Deep technical expertise in: - System requirements definition and management - UAV and aircraft design - Aerodynamics and flight mechanics - Mechanical design and structural analysis - System architecture definition - Integration of avionics, propulsion, payloads, and control systems - Ground and flight testing - Strong understanding of manufacturing-driven design and prototype iteration. - Experience working in high-technology, fast-paced, results-oriented environments. **Who You Are** You bring hands-on experience navigating airworthiness, certification, and regulatory frameworks, and you understand what it takes to move UAV systems from concept to compliant, flight-ready platforms. You have worked with fixed-wing, VTOL, or hybrid UAV configurations and know the technical and operational trade-offs that come with each architecture. ## Apply [Apply at Destinus](https://apply.workable.com/destinusgroup/j/EDA72F413A/apply) --- Powered by [Workable](https://www.workable.com)