UAV/Advanced Mechanical Engineer

Responsibilities for this Position

UAV/Advanced Mechanical Engineer

ID: 2026-73359
US-VA-Manassas
Required Clearance: Secret, obtainable within reasonable time based on requirements
Posted Date: 7/2/2026
Category: Engineering-Mechanical
Employment Type: Full Time
Hiring Company: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc.

Basic Qualifications

Requires a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering, Technology or Mathematics field. Also requires 5+ years of job-related experience, or a Master's degree plus 3 years of job-related experience.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: : Department of Defense Secret security clearance is obtainable within a reasonable amount of time after hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities for this Position

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with other engineers to design, build, and test the UAV.
• Assemble UAVs to prepare for flight testing
• Perform engine bench testing to ensure engines are ready for flight testing
• Interface with the Lead Designer and Senior Technical Engineer on a daily basis.
• Perform flight ready verification of the UAV.

What youll experience:

• Rapid research, design, and prototyping changes
• UAV flight experience
• Move from R&D to production ready design

What you bring to the table:

• Team player
• Mechanical Engineering experience
• Experience designing UAVs or small, lightweight aircraft.
• Hands-on experience assembling prototype systems
• Design expertise in Creo Design Advanced
• Proficiency with drawings per ASME Y14.100.
• Proficiency with GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• MS Office products experience
• Atlassian Suite experience

What sets you apart:

• Experienced with Creo Parametric
• Experienced with AoA, LOB, prop pitch, thermodynamics, etc
• Experienced with small engine aircraft
• Experienced with Ardupilot or MAVLink
• Experience with DFM and DFA for machined, injection molded, and sheet metal parts.
• Experienced with analysis and design of UAVs.
• Able to lead ME and EE at all levels of experience
• The innate ability to build your design in a lab and successfully complete a flight.

Our Commitment to You:

• An exciting career path with opportunities for continuous learning and development.
• Research oriented work, alongside award winning teams developing practical solutions for our nations security
• Flexible schedules with every other Friday off work, if desired (9/80 schedule)
• Competitive benefits, including 401k matching, flex time off, paid parental leave, healthcare benefits, health & wellness programs, employee resource and social groups, and more
• See more at gdmissionsystems.com/careers/why-work-for-us/benefits

Workplace Options:
This position is on-site. While on-site, you will be part of the Manassas, VA facility.

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Salary Note

This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Combined Salary Range

USD $124,216.00 - USD $137,803.00 /Yr.

Company Overview

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

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