Mechanical Engineer - Interceptor Drone

About the role

CDDS develops low-collateral kinetic interceptors to neutralise malicious drones, and is looking for a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical design, prototyping and manufacturing readiness of its interceptor drone. The engineer designs components optimised for weight, robustness and efficient assembly, taking them from SolidWorks to production-ready parts. The location is close to Zurich Hardbrücke, with an ASAP start date.

Key responsibilities

• Design and iterate mechanical components and assemblies in SolidWorks, optimised for weight, strength and manufacturability
• Develop 3D-printed and injection-moulded parts from concept through prototyping to production
• Design for efficient assembly by selecting fasteners, interfaces and joining methods that minimise build time and maximise reliability
• Collaborate with drone and aerodynamics engineers on airframe integration and structural design
• Support production scaling and maintain BOM, drawing packages and assembly documentation
• Conduct mechanical testing and validate designs against real-world loads and flight conditions

Required profile

• BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design or similar; industry experience required
• Hands-on prototyping experience: you build what you design
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, high-ownership startup with long hours when the mission demands them

Required skills

• Strong SolidWorks proficiency (3D modelling, assemblies, drawings)
• Design for manufacturing: injection moulding, 3D printing, CNC machining
• Knowledge of fastener selection and efficient mechanical joining for rapid assembly
• Nice to have: aerodynamic or lightweight structures background, FEA for structural validation, drone/UAV mechanical design, GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis, experience scaling from prototype to series production (2000+ units/year)

What we offer

• Direct impact on mission-critical technology shaping Europe's security landscape
• A fast-moving startup where designs fly within days of leaving SolidWorks
• A highly technical, ambitious and hands-on team
• Real-world testing, deployments and customer demonstrations
• Attractive compensation