Flight Aero & Performance Engineer

Imagine being responsible for the flight performance of an entire UAV; your decisions making immediate impact in operations. This role entails fine-tuning of aircraft control and navigation parameters to ensure mission success, as well as adapting to learnings from the field and leading any necessary aircraft modifications to improve performance. This position requires a strong hands-on technical background in aircraft performance, drive and learning agility with 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

• Own the overall aircraft flight performance and flight mechanics throughout the complete flight envelope from take-off to landing.
• Lead performance improvement initiatives by driving hardware, software, and aerostructure modifications together with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Tune flight control and navigation loops to maximize aircraft stability, efficiency, and mission performance.
• Define, plan, and oversee ground and flight test campaigns to validate aircraft performance.
• Support research and development flight testing in the field, working directly with prototype aircraft and test teams.
• Prepare flight test reports including detailed analysis of aircraft performance and recommendations for optimization.
• Analyze operational flight logs to identify performance trends, investigate anomalies, and propose engineering improvements.
• Collaborate closely with flight controls, navigation, software, payload integration, and mechanical design teams to implement aircraft level improvements throughout the development cycle.

What You'll Need

• Minimum of 3 years of engineering experience within UAV or aerospace development programs.
• Strong technical expertise in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and aircraft performance.
• Hands-on experience with flight control theory and control loop tuning.
• Demonstrated experience across the complete UAV development lifecycle from design through build, testing, and flight operations.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing driven design, rapid prototyping, and iterative engineering.
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-technology, results-oriented engineering environments.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Flight Dynamics, or a related engineering discipline is preferred.

Who You Are

You are passionate about aviation and genuinely excited by UAV technology. You enjoy combining rigorous engineering analysis with practical hands-on work and are equally comfortable optimizing flight performance at your desk or supporting flight tests in challenging field conditions. You learn quickly, take ownership of complex technical problems, and thrive in multidisciplinary teams where innovation happens at speed. You bring curiosity, resilience, and a can do mindset, always looking for the next opportunity to make the aircraft perform better.