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Havoc AI, founded in 2024 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, is a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy. The company develops software-defined hardware for military and commercial autonomous systems across sea, air, and land domains. Havoc's technology enables assets to share information, adapt in real time, and operate even when communications are disrupted or denied.
The Senior Rapid Prototyping Engineer will lead the technical maturation of Locust, an advanced unmanned aircraft system (UAS), as it transitions from prototype to a Department of Defense fieldable, Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) platform. This role is ideal for an engineer who wants to spend significant time working directly with hardware, turning early concepts into functioning prototypes.
Key responsibilities include rapidly converting concepts and requirements into functional drone prototypes; designing and modifying airframes, mechanisms, brackets, mounts, enclosures, and payload interfaces; building and assembling prototype unmanned aircraft and subsystems; integrating motors, propulsion systems, batteries, avionics, sensors, compute hardware, communications, and payloads; creating quick-turn CAD designs and engineering drawings; using additive manufacturing, CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, and other fabrication methods; performing hands-on fabrication, assembly, rework, and modification; developing test fixtures and experimental setups; supporting bench, ground, environmental, and flight testing; diagnosing hardware and integration failures; and rapidly redesigning components based on test results.
Required qualifications include a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or equivalent practical experience; 3+ years developing physical hardware systems; demonstrated experience building and testing drones, UAVs, robotics, aircraft, or autonomous systems; strong mechanical CAD skills; significant hands-on experience building electromechanical prototypes; experience with multiple manufacturing and fabrication processes; strong mechanical intuition and troubleshooting ability; and comfort using common shop tools.
Preferred qualifications include personal experience designing, building, modifying, or operating drones/UAVs; experience with multirotor, VTOL, fixed-wing, or hybrid platforms; experience integrating electric propulsion systems; experience with motors, ESCs, batteries, servos, flight controllers, radios, GPS, sensors, or avionics; and RC aircraft, drone racing, experimental aircraft, or robotics competition experience.
