Mechanical Engineer / Entry Systems

XTEND Tampa is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the development, integration, and production of autonomous drone systems. 

This role focuses on hands-on mechanical engineering support across prototype development, system integration, and production support. The engineer will work closely with electrical, software, and production teams to ensure reliable and manufacturable drone systems. 

The role provides a strong pathway toward broader systems engineering responsibilities as the engineer develops experience across multidisciplinary drone systems. 

Main Responsibilities 

• Mechanical Design & Integration.
• Support design and integration of mechanical components including airframes, payload mounts, and structural assemblies. 
• Prototype Development.
• Build and evaluate prototype systems and support rapid design iterations. 
• Production Floor Support.
• Provide direct engineering support to manufacturing teams during assembly and integration. 
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
• Improve designs for manufacturability, assembly efficiency, and reliability. 
• Testing & Validation.
• Support environmental testing, structural validation, and system integration testing. 
• Failure Analysis. 
• Investigate mechanical failures and perform root-cause analysis. 
• Documentation. 
• Develop engineering drawings, assembly documentation, and integration procedures. 

• B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline. 
• 0–5 years experience in mechanical engineering, robotics, aerospace, or product development. 
• Engineering Skills. 
• Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks. 
• Understanding of mechanical design principles and tolerances. 
• Hands-On Engineering. 
• Comfortable working directly with hardware and prototypes. 
• Documentation. 
• Ability to generate and interpret engineering drawings. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience with drone systems, robotics, or aerospace hardware. 
• Experience supporting prototype builds or production environments. 
• Familiarity with DFM principles.