50+ jobs in defence tech: roles open at STARK, The Fourth Law, Odd Systems and more

Purpose of the role

Lead the formation and development of the hardware direction — covering electronics, mechanical and structural design — to ensure reliable and production-ready UAV systems. This role combines hands-on engineering with technical leadership and team management.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in hardware engineering (electronics or mechatronics or embedded hardware development).
• Proven background in designing and leading development of embedded or UAV-related hardware.
• Strong understanding of PCB design, power systems, RF, and mechanical integration.
• Experience managing small engineering teams or acting as a technical lead.
• Solid knowledge of development lifecycle — from concept and prototyping to serial production.
• Confident in documentation tools (Altium, SolidWorks, etc.) and version control.
• Excellent problem-solving and system-thinking skills.
• Intermediate and higher level of English.

Nice to have

• Experience in UAV, robotics, automotive, or defence electronics.
• Understanding of manufacturing and testing processes.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD, IPC standards, or DO-254.
• Background in mechanical design or integration.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Define and oversee hardware architecture for UAV platforms (electronics, power, communication, mechanical systems).
• Review and approve circuit designs, PCB layouts, and mechanical drawings.
• Ensure hardware-software compatibility and smooth integration with avionics and payloads.
• Supervise prototyping, lab tests, and validation of new modules.
• Set up and maintain documentation standards and design workflows.

Team & Process Leadership

• Build and mentor a multidisciplinary team (electronics engineers, mechanical engineers, designers).
• Plan and prioritise tasks, balancing R&D and production needs.
• Coordinate with software, autopilot, and manufacturing teams.
• Establish internal review and testing procedures to ensure quality and reliability.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and competence development within the team.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with system engineering, software development team and production leads to align hardware design with system requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and product roadmap discussions.
• Collaborate with suppliers and partners for component selection and sourcing.

Purpose of the role

Lead the research and development function, ensuring efficient coordination between electronics, mechanical, software engineering and delivery teams. The role focuses on turning technological concepts into field-proven UAV solutions — balancing innovation, reliability, and delivery timelines.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years of experience in engineering or R&D within UAVs, robotics, aerospace, or complex mechatronic systems.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of embedded systems, electronics, mechanics, and system integration.
• Experience managing R&D budgets, timelines, and priorities.
• Familiarity with project management tools (Jira, Confluence, etc.) and version control systems.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Upper-intermediate English (or higher).

Nice to have

• Previous work in defence or aerospace projects.
• Experience bringing prototypes into low-rate production.
• Knowledge of certification and testing procedures for UAV systems.
• Background in system architecture or technical program management.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Technical Leadership

• Define and drive the R&D roadmap aligned with company goals and product strategy.
• Oversee full R&D lifecycle — from idea validation and prototyping to pre-production testing.
• Manage priorities between ongoing development, experimental research, and system improvements.
• Review and approve key design decisions across hardware, software, and system domains.
• Ensure R&D deliverables meet performance, safety, and reliability requirements.

Team & Process Management

• Build and lead a multidisciplinary R&D team (hardware, software, system, and test engineers).
• Set clear goals, KPIs, and development plans for team members.
• Implement transparent project tracking and reporting routines (roadmaps, milestones, reviews).
• Facilitate technical communication and knowledge sharing between teams.
• Establish structured collaboration with production, procurement, and testing departments.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with Software Hardware Engineering and Delivery teams to translate system-level requirements into actionable R&D tasks.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and QA teams to ensure design-for-production readiness.
• Liaise with suppliers and research partners for new technologies and materials.
• Support testing campaigns and design validation through iterative feedback loops.

Purpose of the role

Lead the full design and development of UAV airframe structures — from initial concept to serial production. The Chief Designer ensures mechanical integrity, manufacturability, and integration of all subsystems within the airframe, balancing performance, weight, and reliability.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years in mechanical or structural design (preferably in UAV, aviation, or aerospace).
• Proven experience in designing lightweight structural systems for complex mechanical products (e.g., UAVs, vehicles, robotics, or aerospace).
• Excellent knowledge of CAD tools (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar).
• Understanding of material behaviour, structural loads, and/or aerodynamics principles.
• Experience with structural analysis (FEA tools like ANSYS, Nastran, or SolidWorks Simulation).
• Strong documentation and configuration management habits.
• Hands-on experience with prototype manufacturing and assembly support.
• Intermediate and higher level of English.

Nice to have

• Experience in UAV or light aircraft development.
• Knowledge of composite manufacturing processes (lay-up, vacuum infusion, autoclave).
• Understanding of production technologies (CNC, additive, jig design).
• Familiarity with certification or qualification testing.

Key Responsibilities

Structural & Mechanical Design Leadership

• Define the overall airframe architecture (fuselage, wings, control surfaces, mounting systems).
• Approve or create 3D models, drawings, and design documentation for all mechanical assemblies.
• Ensure optimal balance between strength, stiffness, weight, and manufacturability.
• Lead structural analysis, stress verification, and materials selection (composites, aluminium, 3D-printed parts).
• Supervise design integration with avionics, propulsion, and payload systems.
• Review and validate results of static and dynamic testing, fatigue and vibration analysis.

Cross-functional Coordination

• Collaborate closely with electronics, system integration, and production teams to ensure compatibility and ease of assembly.
• Support prototyping, testing, and serial production phases, resolving design-related issues.
• Communicate design changes and ensure documentation consistency through the lifecycle (ECR/ECO management).
• Work with suppliers and manufacturers on material choices and process optimisation.

Documentation & Quality

• Own and maintain the airframe design documentation package (3D CAD, 2D drawings, assembly instructions).
• Set and enforce design standards, tolerances, and control points.
• Approve BOMs, material lists, and fabrication drawings for production.
• Participate in design certification and internal audits.

Purpose of the role

Ensure reliable integration of all hardware components of UAV platforms — from avionics and power systems to payload and communication modules. This role connects system architecture with practical implementation, focusing on how electronic and mechanical subsystems work together as one functioning aircraft.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of experience in system integration or hardware development (UAVs, robotics, or embedded systems).
• Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals — power, sensors, communication interfaces (CAN, UART, Ethernet).
• Familiarity with autopilots, flight controllers, and UAV subsystems.
• Experience with wiring, harness design, and hardware assembly documentation.
• Ability to read and create schematics and mechanical drawings.
• Hands-on experience with prototype testing and debugging.
• Intermediate and higher level of English.

Nice to have

• Experience with UAV flight testing or telemetry systems.
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC principles and power management.
• Familiarity with Altium, SolidWorks, or similar design tools.
• Understanding of system-level verification and validation processes.

Key Responsibilities

System Design & Integration

• Develop and maintain system-level architecture focusing on hardware components (power, communication, avionics, payload, propulsion).
• Define and document electrical, mechanical, and data interfaces between subsystems.
• Support selection and validation of key components — sensors, controllers, converters, antennas, and wiring.
• Coordinate integration of electronic modules into the airframe together with mechanical and electronics teams.
• Prepare and maintain wiring diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), and BOMs.

Testing & Validation

• Plan and supervise integration, bench, and flight tests of hardware systems.
• Identify and resolve issues related to signal integrity, power distribution, or mechanical fit.
• Work with QA and Test teams to validate performance and reliability of hardware assemblies.
• Analyse telemetry and test data to confirm system behaviour.

Cross-team Coordination

• Collaborate with hardware, software, and production engineers to ensure system consistency.
• Translate system-level requirements into implementable hardware tasks.
• Participate in design reviews and contribute to risk analysis and mitigation.

Purpose of the role

Design and develop embedded hardware systems for UAV platforms — from concept and prototyping to serial production. This role covers the full hardware development cycle: circuit design, PCB layout, testing, and integration with embedded software.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3+ years of experience in embedded electronics development (UAVs, robotics, IoT, or similar).
• Strong background in circuit design and PCB layout.
• Solid understanding of analog/digital electronics, power systems, sensors, and microcontrollers.
• Proficiency with Altium Designer or similar CAD tools.
• Knowledge of communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet).
• Hands-on experience in testing, debugging, and troubleshooting hardware systems.
• Intermediate level of English (for technical communication and documentation).

Nice to have

• Experience in UAV, robotics, or defence-related hardware.
• Understanding of EMC/EMI principles and signal protection/filtering.
• Familiarity with Python or C/C++ for microcontroller interaction or test automation.
• Experience preparing manufacturing documentation (BOM, assembly drawings, test reports).

Key Responsibilities

Design & Development

• Design schematics and PCBs for embedded systems used in UAV platforms.
• Select components, power modules, microcontrollers, and sensors.
• Create and maintain technical and production documentation.
• Collaborate with software engineers to ensure hardware–software integration.

Testing & Validation

• Conduct functional testing, debugging, and validation of prototypes.
• Analyse and resolve hardware issues at the board and system levels.
• Support production, assembly, and serial launch of electronic modules.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with system integration, mechanical, and QA teams.
• Participate in design reviews and technical discussions.
• Optimise designs for manufacturability, reliability, and performance.

Purpose of the role

Build a systematic approach to business processes across the company — from operations and production to R&D. The main goal is to analyse how different functions work today, describe and optimise their workflows, and make them transparent, measurable, and manageable.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3+ years of experience as a Business Analyst, System Analyst, or Process Manager.
• Experience in process modelling (BPMN, UML, or similar).
• Practical understanding of how production, engineering, or technical teams operate.
• Strong analytical thinking — ability to structure complex information and identify cause-and-effect relationships.
• Experience in documenting business processes and coordinating with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency with process visualisation and management tools (Miro, Lucidchart, Jira, Confluence, Notion).
• English — Intermediate or higher.

Nice to have

• Experience in manufacturing or R&D-driven companies.
• Participation in ERP/CRM system implementation.
• Understanding of financial analysis, management accounting, or operational metrics.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse current business processes across departments (Operations, Production, R&D, Finance).
• Map existing processes (AS-IS) and design optimised models (TO-BE).
• Identify bottlenecks, overlapping functions, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and implement process documentation standards, role definitions, and responsibility matrices.
• Collaborate with department heads to implement new or updated workflows.
• Formulate requirements for process automation — from lightweight tools (Google Sheets, Jira, Notion) to ERP/CRM systems.
• Prepare analytical reports, insights, and recommendations for management.
• Contribute to the development of performance management systems (KPI, OKR, process metrics).

Purpose of the role

Ensure quality and reliability of components, materials, and assemblies supplied for UAV production. The role focuses on incoming inspection, supplier evaluation, and continuous improvement of supply chain quality processes — to guarantee consistency from prototype to serial production.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3+ years of experience in quality control or supply chain engineering, preferably in electronics or mechanical manufacturing.
• Understanding of inspection and testing methods for electronic and mechanical components.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, IPC, or MIL-STD quality standards.
• Experience working with non-conformity reports (NCR), CAPA, and supplier audits.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and BOMs.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills (Google Sheets, Excel, or ERP systems).

Nice to have

• Experience with defence, UAV, or automotive production environments.
• Familiarity with Lean / Six Sigma tools and root cause analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone, FMEA).
• Basic understanding of procurement and logistics processes.
• Hands-on experience with incoming inspection tools and measurement equipment.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Control & Inspection

• Perform incoming quality inspection of electronic, mechanical, and composite components.
• Verify conformity of materials against technical documentation, drawings, and standards.
• Record and report non-conformities, initiate corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Maintain traceability and proper documentation of inspection results.

Supplier Quality Management

• Evaluate and monitor supplier performance through audits and quality reports.
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality issues and prevent recurrence.
• Participate in qualification of new suppliers and components.
• Support change management (ECR/ECO) and material substitutions.

Process Improvement

• Analyse recurring issues and identify root causes of defects or delays.
• Work with production, engineering, and logistics teams to improve processes.
• Contribute to development of inspection standards, checklists, and work instructions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing cost of non-quality.

Purpose of the role

Oversee and ensure the efficient operation of UAV production, from planning and resource management to final product delivery. The role combines operational leadership, quality control, and cross-functional coordination with R&D and Supply Chain to maintain reliable serial manufacturing.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3+ years of experience in production management, preferably in electronics, mechatronics, or mechanical manufacturing.
• Solid understanding of the end-to-end production cycle — from assembly and testing to logistics.
• Proven experience in managing production teams (operators, supervisors, technicians).
• Knowledge of Lean, 5S, and Continuous Improvement principles.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes, production planning, and cost control.
• Proficiency with management tools (Google Sheets, ERP/MRP systems).
• English — intermediate+.

Nice to have

• Experience in high-precision or defence-related manufacturing.
• Understanding of electronic and mechanical assembly.
• Experience scaling production from prototypes to serial runs.
• Knowledge of QA/QC, traceability, and ESD control practices.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management

• Plan and oversee daily operations across production lines and assembly areas.
• Ensure adherence to schedules, quality standards, and technical requirements.
• Monitor utilisation of resources — workforce, materials, and equipment.
• Supervise the transition from prototype manufacturing to serial production.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the production team — set goals, assign tasks, and grow competencies.
• Foster a culture of accountability, quality, and workplace safety.
• Coordinate with R&D, Logistics, Quality Control, and Engineering departments.

Process Optimisation:

• Track performance metrics (OEE, yield, downtime) and drive continuous improvement.
• Optimise production flow, workstation layout, and material logistics.
• Contribute to SOPs, process documentation, and work instructions.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and EHS standards.

What we expect from the candidate:

• Meeting deadlines and being responsible while working remotely
• Interest in writing about defence tech
• At least two years of experience in business, IT, or military journalism
• English proficiency at B2 level or higher
• Preference will be given to candidates based in Kyiv or Lviv

Key responsibilities:

• Finding story leads and interview subjects
• Writing articles, proofreading, and fact-checking
• Searching for insights, exclusive news, and stories
• Analyzing and verifying texts
• Monitoring the market

What we offer:

• Competitive salary (discussed individually)
• Bonuses and rewards for additional projects
• Remote work option
• Flexible schedule
• Clear KPIs and supportive management
• An opportunity to cover one of the most dynamic business sectors in Ukraine — the one directly shaping the country’s defence capability