Head of R&D; – Composites (UAV)

? Thanjavur | Full time

We are looking for a highly experienced
Head of R&D; – Composites
to serve as the organisation’s technical authority for composite design and manufacturing.

This is a senior role that will work closely with the
Product Development Team
, providing expert guidance on composite airframe design, structural optimisation, mould/tooling strategy, material selection, and manufacturability, while taking complete ownership of the
Composite Fabrication Team and processes
.

Key Responsibilities
- Advise the Product Development Team on
composite airframe design, structural concepts, material selection, laminate design, and manufacturability
.
- Review and optimise
UAV wings, fuselage, control surfaces, fairings, and other composite structures
for weight, strength, stiffness, and production feasibility.
- Provide technical leadership for
mould and tooling design
, including mould architecture, master patterns, bonding/assembly fixtures, and production tooling.
- Lead the complete
Composite Fabrication Team
,



from prototype development through production.
- Establish and optimise
prepreg layup, vacuum bagging, oven/autoclave curing, wet layup, bonding, trimming, finishing, and assembly processes
.
- Define laminate schedules, ply orientation, core materials, adhesives, curing cycles, and composite manufacturing standards.
- Lead composite prototype development, process trials, structural testing, failure analysis, and continuous improvement.
- Establish
SOPs, quality controls, inspection criteria, process documentation, and workmanship standards
.
- Develop the composite team's capabilities, infrastructure, equipment, and production processes as UAV programs scale.
- Work closely with Product Development, Tooling, Quality, Manufacturing, and Flight Test teams to resolve airframe and composite-related challenges.

Requirements
- 6+ years of hands-on experience
in advanced composite design and manufacturing, preferably in UA

📌 Head of R&D – Composites (Thanjavur)
🏢 Yali Aerospace
📍 Thanjavur