Lead Aeronautical Engineer, UAS

Who we are

Sphere Defense is a fully funded technology startup with the mission of providing allied countries with sovereign, effective and seamless autonomous countermeasures to neutralize todays’ and tomorrow’s aerial threats.

Sphere Defense was founded by industry veterans with previous successful exits, and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the heart of Europe.

About you

You are an experienced and highly-motivated Lead Aeronautical Engineer, UAS who has worked with small scale aircraft designs like unmanned VTOL fixed-wings (UAS).

What you’ll do

• Be one of the first members of a high-performing team, designing and developing autonomous countermeasures to protect allied countries from aerial threats

• Design, develop and test unmanned aircrafts (including airframes, actuators) powered by jet and electrical propulsion

• Work with the Flight Control team to optimize the performance of the vehicles

• Coordinate testing and validation internally and externally (e.g. wind tunnels, icing, etc.)

• Be hands-on, developing and testing prototypes with the team in the field

• Draft and review documentation and design documents

• Be a team player and a mentor, being available to support and grow the team when needed

Location: Onsite in Brussels, Belgium. Our office is close to Gare Centrale.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Aerospace engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

• At least 4 years of demonstrated experience with the design of fixed-wing light unmanned aircrafts (UAS) with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)

• 0 -> 1 experience in taking a design from concept to test flights

• Proficient with Matlab/Simulink

• Experience with jet and electrical propulsion and its integration into light aircrafts

• Intimate understanding of aircraft static and dynamic stability analysis and simulation

• Proficiency with CAD packages such as SolidWorks

• Experience with aerospace-grade materials and manufacturing techniques

• Knowledge of aerodynamics and fluid mechanics principles

• Experience with coordination of external suppliers and partners (e.g. CFD, wind tunnel testing, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of C++/Python and ROS2

• Avionics and wiring harnesses design experience

• Knowledge of EASA regulations in terms of flight testing

• Experience with Thrust Vectoring Control

• Experience with rocket propulsion integration

What we offer

• Attractive compensation

• Year-end bonus eligibility

• Stock Options Plan eligibility

• Mobility Budget

• 32 days of holidays

• Meal vouchers

• Private Health insurance

We are building a core team of hard-working people. If you want to join a company with tremendous impact and you are autonomous, creative and driven, we want to hear from you!

Sphere Defense offers a unique opportunity to change the global defense landscape.

This role is only open to candidates with right to work in Belgium. We cannot provide visa sponsorship at this time.