Head of UAV Systems

21 hours ago


Aluva, Kerala, India Canary Digital Full time

Head of UAV Systems

Location: Aluva / Kochi, India (with travel to test ranges and partner sites)

Department: UAV AI Division, Canary Digital.ai

Role Overview

As the Head of UAV Systems, you will lead the development, integration, and deployment of UAV platforms for AI-powered defense and surveillance solutions at Canary Digital.ai. You will oversee all aspects of UAV hardware, flight systems, avionics, mission planning, and regulatory compliance, while working closely with our AI/ML and software engineering teams. This is a strategic leadership role to build and scale Canary Digital's UAV capability from prototype to operational deployment.

Key Responsibilities


•Lead the end-to-end UAV systems program: from design and integration to flight testing and operational deployment.


•Architect UAV platforms with PX4/ArduPilot, flight controllers, payloads (EO/IR gimbals, Jetson-class compute), and secure comms.


•Oversee mission planning, autonomy modes, and failsafe configurations.


•Collaborate with AI/ML engineers on computer vision payload integration.


•Establish and enforce flight safety protocols, risk assessments, and compliance with DGCA/MoD regulations.


•Define UAV fleet operations strategy: multi-drone coordination, handoff, and scaling.


•Build and mentor a team of UAV Systems Engineers, RF/Comms Security engineers, and Test Officers.


•Act as the primary technical interface with defense partners, test ranges, and regulatory bodies.


•Own UAV program roadmaps, budgets, and milestone delivery.

Required Skills & Experience


•10+ years in UAV/avionics/robotics engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.


•Deep expertise in PX4/ArduPilot, MAVLink protocol, mission planning software.


•Hands-on experience with autonomous UAV platforms (quad/hex/octocopters, fixed-wing).


•Knowledge of UAV payloads (EO/IR gimbals, lidar, radars, sensors).


•Strong grasp of flight dynamics, safety envelopes, and failsafe design.


•Exposure to DGCA/ICAO military aviation compliance frameworks.


•Familiarity with secure comms, RF systems, and encryption (advantageous).


•Excellent leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and program delivery skills.

Preferred Background


•Former DRDO, HAL, BEL, ISRO, or defense UAV startups.


•Experience with BVLOS trials, acceptance tests, and defense procurement.


•Exposure to multi-drone fleet operations and swarm coordination.

What We Offer


•Opportunity to build India's first of it's kind AI-native UAV systems team inside a fast-growing AI company.


•Work on strategic defense and security projects.


•Collaborative environment with AI, edge computing, and design experts.


•Competitive salary + performance incentives + ESOPs.


  • UAV Systems Engineer

    21 hours ago


    Aluva, Kerala, India Canary Digital Full time

    UAV Systems Engineer Position: UAV Systems Engineer (2–3 roles) Location: Aluva / Kochi, India (with travel to test ranges and partner sites) Department: UAV AI Division, Canary Digital.ai Role Overview As a UAV Systems Engineer , you will design, integrate, and test UAV hardware and flight systems for Canary Digital's AI-powered defense and...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India beBeeUAV Full time US$ 1,50,000 - US$ 2,00,000

    Lead UAV Systems DeveloperAs the Head of UAV Systems, you will lead the development, integration, and deployment of unmanned aerial vehicle platforms for AI-powered defense and surveillance solutions. You will oversee all aspects of UAV hardware, flight systems, avionics, mission planning, and regulatory compliance while working closely with our AI/ML and...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India Canary Digital Full time

    UAV Systems EngineerPosition: UAV Systems Engineer (2–3 roles)Location: Aluva / Kochi, India (with travel to test ranges and partner sites)Department: UAV AI Division, Canary Digital.aiRole OverviewAs a UAV Systems Engineer, you will design, integrate, and test UAV hardware and flight systems for Canary Digital's AI-powered defense and surveillance...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India beBeeUAV Full time ₹ 20,00,000 - ₹ 25,00,000

    Job Title: UAV Systems EngineerThis is a key position in our UAV AI Division where you will be responsible for designing, integrating and testing UAV hardware and flight systems for defense and surveillance platforms.Main Responsibilities:Tune UAV flight performance by adjusting PID tuning and EKF parameters to achieve maximum stability and control.Implement...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India beBeeUAV Full time US$ 15,00,000 - US$ 20,00,000

    Key ResponsibilitiesLead a comprehensive UAV systems program, encompassing design and integration to flight testing and operational deployment.Design and architect UAV platforms with PX4/Ardupilot, flight controllers, payloads (EO/IR gimbals, Jetson-class compute), and secure communication protocols.Oversee mission planning, auto-modes, fail-safes, and...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India beBeeUAV Full time ₹ 2,00,00,000 - ₹ 2,50,00,000

    Lead UAV EngineerThe successful candidate will be responsible for leading the development, integration and deployment of UAV platforms for AI-powered defense and surveillance solutions.This is a challenging opportunity to build and scale our UAV capability from prototype to operational deployment.The ideal candidate will have:10+ years in...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India beBeeEngineer Full time ₹ 9,00,000 - ₹ 12,00,000

    UAV Systems EngineerAs a UAV systems engineer, you will have the opportunity to design and develop cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. You will work closely with our team to integrate advanced hardware and software components, ensuring safe and reliable UAV operations.Key Responsibilities:Design and develop UAV systems, including airframes,...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India beBeeLeadership Full time ₹ 2,00,00,000 - ₹ 2,50,00,000

    Lead UAV Systems EngineerA highly skilled professional is sought after to lead the development, integration, and deployment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms for AI-powered defense and surveillance solutions. This strategic leadership role involves overseeing all aspects of UAV hardware, flight systems, avionics, mission planning, and regulatory...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India beBeeUAV Full time ₹ 9,00,000 - ₹ 12,00,000

    UAV Systems EngineerAs a UAV Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, integrating, and testing UAV hardware and flight systems.You will work hands-on with airframes, flight controllers, payloads, and mission planning software to ensure safe and reliable UAV operations.This is a technical execution role that requires strong expertise in...


  • Aluva, Kerala, India Canary Digital Full time

    AI/ML Engineer (UAV Perception)Position: AI/ML Engineer (3–4 roles)Location: Aluva / Kochi, India (with field testing at UAV ranges)Department: UAV AI Division, Canary Digital.aiRole OverviewAs an AI/ML Engineer (UAV Perception), you will design, train, and deploy computer vision and sensor fusion models for Canary Digital's UAV platforms. Your work will...