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Prototyping Engineer

Helsing· Hardware Engineering
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Hybrid (London or Oxford)full-timePosted 3mo ago

About the role

Rapid Prototyping Engineer who translates concepts into flight-ready prototypes for Helsing's advanced drone platforms, owning full build cycle from concept to field testing and ensuring the developmental fleet remains flight-ready.

Responsibilities

  • Design, fabricate, and assemble flight-ready prototypes, including complex folding structures, deployment mechanisms, and integrated avionics bays, converting evolving designs into testable hardware on short timescales.
  • Modify airframes, build custom electrical wiring harnesses, and integrate power distribution and avionics systems to sustain rapid iteration across Helsing's developmental drone fleet.
  • Integrate and configure flight control platforms (PX4, ArduPilot, or equivalent autopilots), flash firmware, calibrate onboard sensors, and resolve system anomalies during bench and pre-flight testing.
  • Plan and execute functional and lifetime test campaigns in the field, using telemetry data to close the loop between physical results and CAD model refinement, maturing prototypes through successive iterations.
  • Collaborate with design and test engineers to surface integration risks early, delivering targeted hardware solutions that keep the developmental fleet on schedule and mission-ready.

Qualifications

  • Have taken unmanned aerial systems or highly complex mechanical or robotic systems through the full cycle from concept to physical assembly to field testing.
  • Proficient in 3D CAD (SolidWorks/PDM or Siemens NX/Teamcenter) and have applied structural validation techniques, including FEA, to aerospace or UAV hardware, with understanding of GD&T.
  • Skilled in workshop fabrication with composites, metals, 3D printers, precision hand tools, and soldering stations to build, modify, and reinforce structures.
  • Practical experience integrating and troubleshooting flight control platforms, payload electronics, and power distribution systems on UAV or similarly complex platforms.
  • Comfortable working with incomplete documentation and evolving requirements, taking end-to-end ownership of outcomes and applying sound engineering judgement.

Skills

Required:Unmanned aerial systems deployment3D CAD and structural validationWorkshop fabricationFlight control integration

Benefits

  • Competitive salary
  • VSOP options
  • Relocation support up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation
  • Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance
  • Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)
  • Social: regular company events and monthly social allowances
  • Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
  • Family support: 5 days paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work
  • Hands-on onboarding program (Infraduction) to build tooling and applications across the company
  • A hands-on onboarding program (Infraduction) to learn our tech stack and how we work at day one
Last updated Jul 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Helsing

Helsing | Artificial intelligence to protect our democracies

AI for electronic warfareAI-enabled precision mass and autonomous systemsAutonomous air dominanceMass defence manufacturingRecce strike softwareUnderwater autonomous massliquid-ai-recruiting-target
Company profileWebsite

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