Lead CAD Engineer
This organisation is building the next generation of low-altitude aviation infrastructure. Their mission is to enable safe, reliable, everyday drone operations that move people, goods and information far more efficiently than ground-based systems.
They design and develop the aircraft, the software, and the operational frameworks required to make large-scale autonomous aerial services possible. The long-term vision is straightforward:
establish drones as a dependable part of national infrastructure.
Joining the team means working in a fast-moving environment where problems are real, solutions must work in the physical world—not just in theory—and innovation happens at pace. It's a place for builders, problem-solvers, and people who want to shape the future of aerial mobility.
About the Role
We need a CAD Design Engineer who can turn real operational requirements into robust, manufacturable hardware that performs in all conditions. You will own our CAD environment in Onshape and translate requirements into clean, parametric parts and assemblies that suppliers can build and operations can trust. This is a hands-on role in a fast-moving hardware team where your work directly affects safety, reliability and scale. Engineers with experience in motorsport, racing yacht components or general aviation likely thrive in this environment.
Responsibilities
* Produce parametric CAD parts and assemblies in Onshape that are easy to update as we learn and iterate.
* Create surfacing and solid models suitable for aerodynamic and structural applications.
* Build assemblies with realistic motion limits, correct tolerances and good design intent.
* Perform simple stress and strain analysis to de-risk concepts before prototypes.
* Generate detailed drawing packs with clear GD and T, BOMs and manufacturing notes.
* Apply deep understanding of metal and composite manufacturing methods to ensure designs are buildable, repeatable and high quality.
* Incorporate additive manufacturing where it provides advantage or speed.
* Work closely with external suppliers by providing drawings and 3D files, resolving questions and keeping lead times tight.
* Maintain and organise the Onshape CAD library and associated Arena PLM data so configurations and versions remain clean and traceable.
* Drive standards for naming, structure and documentation to keep the engineering environment efficient as we scale.
Qualifications
You likely have three to five years in a high-performance engineering environment such as motorsport, advanced composites, GA aircraft, UAVs or precision mechanical design.
Required Skills
* Strong in parametric part design
* Surfacing and complex geometry
* Assembly design with tight tolerances
* Motion-limited mates and realistic assembly behaviour
* Simple stress and strain analysis
* Creating complete drawing packs for external manufacturing
Preferred Skills
* Composites manufacturing: layups, curing and tooling
* CNC metal manufacturing constraints
* Additive manufacturing advantages and limitations
* ISO 9001 or other quality system experience
* Materials science knowledge, especially in composites
* Design for manufacturing and composite tooling design
* Interest in drones, VTOL aircraft or aerospace systems