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
- Opportunity 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 solid 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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