About the Position

Mechanical Engineer, Kinematic Systems and Mechanisms

Munich

About the Company

Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.

As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.

We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.

The Role

As Mechanical Engineer, Kinematic Systems and Mechanisms, you will own the design, analysis and validation of high-performance moving systems for Helsing's drone platforms, from deployment mechanisms and folding structures through to landing gears and robotic joints. Working across kinematic synthesis, multi-body dynamics, precision engineering and hands-on prototype iteration, you will translate complex mechanical requirements into flight-worthy, testable hardware.

Responsibilities

Own mechanism architecture from concept through to validated hardware, performing kinematic synthesis, multi-body dynamics analysis, torque and force profiling and FEA to ensure every moving system meets structural, performance and weight requirements before design is committed
Select and integrate electro-mechanical actuators, precision bearings, gearboxes, linkages and structural joints, applying advanced GD&T to ASME Y14.5 or ISO 1101 standards to control backlash, alignment and thermal expansion across complex moving assemblies
Build and iterate functional mechanism prototypes hands-on, evaluating kinematic behaviour and structural integrity under operationally relevant conditions, and design lifetime and fatigue test campaigns that validate analytical models and drive technical maturation
Produce robust 3D models, 2D manufacturing drawings, kinematic analysis reports and design documentation that meet aerospace quality standards, ensuring full traceability from requirement through to verified design output
Collaborate with systems, structures and avionics teams across design reviews and integration milestones, ensuring kinematic assemblies interface correctly with the broader airframe and that mechanism reliability is maintained across the full range of environmental and operational conditions

Requirements

Have designed and delivered complex kinematic mechanisms and moving systems for aerospace, drone or similarly demanding applications, with demonstrated proficiency in multi-body dynamics tools such as MSC Adams, MotionSolve or SolidWorks Motion alongside FEA for structural validation
Are proficient in 3D and 2D CAD and PLM workflows using SolidWorks/PDM or Siemens NX/Teamcenter, and can apply advanced GD&T and statistical tolerance stack-up analysis to control precision and fit in complex moving assemblies
Have selected and integrated precision mechanical components, including bearings, gearboxes, ball screws and high-strength fasteners, with a working knowledge of aerospace-grade materials and manufacturing processes including CNC machining, composites and additive manufacturing
Have set up test rigs and executed functional, environmental and lifetime test campaigns on kinematic systems, using physical test data to correlate and refine analytical models
Act decisively with minimal guidance, own outcomes end-to-end and initiate solutions without waiting for direction

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.

Nice to Have

Experience designing mechanisms for harsh or constrained operational environments, including consideration of wear, lubrication, friction, stiffness and thermal compliance across extended service lifetimes
Familiarity with Hardware-in-the-Loop test environments and their application to kinematic system validation within iterative drone or UAV development programmes

We Offer

Competitive salary and VSOP options
Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation
Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance
Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)
Social: regular company events and monthly social allowances
Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work
A hands-on onboarding program (affectionately labelled “Infraduction”), in which you will be building tooling and applications to be used across the company. This is your opportunity to learn our tech stack, explore the company, and learn how we get things done - all whilst working with other engineering teams from day one

Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.

Mechanical Engineer, Kinematic Systems and Mechanisms

Job description