Position: UAV Development Manager

Location: IIT Ropar, Punjab

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reporting To: Director / Chief Technology Officer (CTO) About the Role We are seeking a highly motivated and hands-on UAV Development Manager to lead the day-to-day manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing, and deployment of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The ideal candidate will possess strong technical expertise in multirotor UAV platforms, flight controller tuning, avionics integration, and UAV operations while managing a multidisciplinary engineering team.

The candidate will play a critical role in transforming UAV concepts into reliable flight-ready systems by ensuring quality manufacturing processes, timely execution, and continuous technical improvements.

Key Responsibilities: UAV Manufacturing & Integration

Oversee the complete UAV manufacturing and assembly process from component inspection to final integration.

Lead day-to-day production activities ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to project timelines.

Develop and implement manufacturing SOPs, assembly procedures, and quality assurance protocols.

Ensure proper documentation of build configurations, revisions, and component traceability.

Coordinate procurement, inventory, and material planning for UAV production.

Flight

Controller & Autopilot Development

Configure, tune, and optimize Pixhawk flight controllers.

Extensive hands-on experience with:

PX4 Autopilot

ArduPilot

Perform PID tuning, flight parameter optimization, sensor calibration, and mission configuration.

Troubleshoot flight controller hardware and software issues. UAV Integration

Integrate

Flight Controllers

ESCs

Motors

GPS

Telemetry

RC Systems

Companion Computers

Payload Systems

Cameras

EO/IR Sensors

Gimbals

Perform complete electrical integration and system validation. Testing & Flight Operations

Conduct ground testing and pre-flight inspections.

Perform UAV calibrations including

IMU

Compass

Accelerometer

Radio

ESC

GPS





Execute flight testing and validate aircraft performance.

Analyze flight logs and recommend improvements.

Ensure safe UAV operations following DGCA guidelines.

Electronics & Fabrication

Perform precision soldering and wiring of UAV electronics.

Diagnose PCB-level and wiring issues.

Assist in prototyping and rapid hardware development.

Ensure proper cable management and electrical safety. Team Leadership

Supervise technicians, UAV engineers, interns, and research associates.

Allocate daily tasks and monitor project progress.

Mentor junior engineers in UAV assembly and integration best practices.

Coordinate with mechanical, electronics, software, and AI teams for successful project execution. Documentation & Compliance

Maintain technical documentation, build records, maintenance logs, and flight reports.

Ensure compliance with institutional safety standards and DGCA regulations where applicable.

Support demonstrations, customer evaluations, and field deployments.

Required

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in

Aeronautical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Electronics Engineering

Robotics

Mechatronics

Or related discipline

3–7 years of hands-on experience in UAV development, manufacturing, or systems integration.

Technical

Skills The ideal candidate should have strong experience in: Multirotor UAV development

Pixhawk flight controller setup and tuning

PX4 Autopilot

ArduPilot

UAV assembly and integration

UAV wiring and soldering

Drone electronics troubleshooting

Drone calibration procedures

Flight testing and log analysis

RC systems and telemetry





Mission Planner

QGroundControl

MAVLink ecosystem

Battery management systems

Power distribution systems

GPS and RTK integration

Companion computers (preferred)

Linux environment (preferred) Desired Experience Experience with one or more of the following will be considered an advantage:

Fixed-wing UAVs

VTOL platforms

Swarm UAV systems

AI-enabled drones

Computer vision payloads

ROS / ROS2

NVIDIA Jetson platforms

Raspberry Pi integration

LiDAR payload integration

Thermal imaging systems

DGCA Type Certification processes

UAV manufacturing at scale Soft Skills

Strong problem-solving abilities

Excellent troubleshooting skills

Leadership and team management

Effective communication

Ability to work in a fast-paced R&D; environment

High attention to detail

Strong planning and execution capabilities Preferred Certifications

DGCA Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) – Preferred

PX4 or ArduPilot certifications (if available)

Electronics or UAV-related certifications What We Offer

Prospect to work on cutting-edge UAV technologies within a premier research ecosystem at IIT Ropar.

Exposure to advanced R&D; projects in autonomous systems, AI-enabled drones, and next-generation UAV platforms.

Collaborative environment with leading researchers, engineers, and industry partners.

Professional growth through challenging technical projects and innovation-driven development.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a hands-on UAV professional who is equally comfortable on the production floor, in the integration lab, and at the flight test field. The ideal candidate should possess a strong engineering mindset, demonstrate ownership of UAV development activities, and have the ability to lead a team while ensuring high standards of manufacturing quality, system reliability, and operational safety. A passion for innovation and practical problem-solving is essential for success in this role.

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