Overview
HEAD OF UAV MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING Jobs in Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe at Drone Solutions Zimbabwe
Title: HEAD OF UAV MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
Company: Drone Solutions Zimbabwe
Location: Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe
HEAD OF UAV MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING
Drone Manufacturing Plant Lead
Company: Drone Solutions
Division: DMP — Drone Manufacturing Plant
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Workplace type: On-site
Employment type: Full-time
Reports to:General Manager
ABOUT DRONE SOLUTIONS
Drone Solutions is establishing its Drone Manufacturing Plant (DMP), a specialised division responsible for the assembly, manufacturing, integration and advanced customisation of unmanned aerial vehicles.
DMP will develop reliable, mission-specific drone platforms for commercial, industrial, security and public-sector applications across Africa.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are seeking an exceptional Head of UAV Manufacturing & Engineering to establish and lead the plant’s engineering and production operations.
The successful candidate must be a highly technical, hands-on engineer with extensive practical knowledge of UAV design, assembly, systems integration, manufacturing, customisation and flight testing.
This is not a desk-only management position. The successful candidate will be expected to lead from the workshop floor, solve complex engineering problems and take personal responsibility for the technical quality, safety and reliability of every platform produced by DMP.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead the establishment and day-to-day technical operations of the Drone Manufacturing Plant.
• Design and implement the plant’s assembly, integration, manufacturing, testing and quality-control processes.
• Lead the development, assembly and continuous improvement of multirotor, fixed-wing and VTOL drone platforms.
• Translate customer and operational requirements into practical, mission-specific UAV configurations.
• Lead advanced drone customisation for mapping, mining, agriculture, surveillance, infrastructure inspection, security, emergency response and other specialised applications.
• Oversee the integration of airframes, propulsion systems, flight controllers, avionics, power systems, communications, telemetry, GNSS/RTK systems, sensors and specialised payloads.
• Develop and maintain bills of materials, engineering drawings, assembly instructions, standard operating procedures and technical records.
• Establish configuration-control, serialisation, component-traceability and product-documentation systems.
• Lead prototyping, calibration, ground testing, flight testing, troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.
• Analyse flight logs and resolve problems relating to stability, vibration, propulsion, communications, navigation, payload performance and system reliability.
• Establish appropriate tooling, workshop-safety, electrostatic-discharge protection and equipment-maintenance procedures.
• Evaluate components, suppliers and technologies for technical suitability, quality, cost and availability.
• Ensure that assembled platforms comply with applicable aviation, safety, quality and operational requirements.
• Recruit, train, mentor and supervise engineers, technicians and assembly personnel.
• Develop a disciplined engineering culture centred on safety, quality, innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical advice to executive management on product development, production capacity, investment requirements and emerging UAV technologies.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• A bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Robotics Engineering or another closely related discipline.
• A postgraduate engineering qualification or relevant professional certification would be an advantage.
• Strong practical experience in UAV design, assembly, integration, repair, customisation and flight testing.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams, engineering workshops, manufacturing operations or complex product-development projects.
REQUIRED TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
• Comprehensive knowledge of multirotor, fixed-wing and VTOL aircraft systems.
• Strong understanding of aerodynamics, airframes, propulsion systems, motors, electronic speed controllers, propellers, batteries and power-management systems.
• Practical experience with flight-control platforms such as ArduPilot, PX4 or equivalent systems.
• Proficiency with Mission Planner, QGroundControl or comparable flight-planning and configuration software.
• Experience integrating GNSS, RTK/PPK, telemetry, radio communications, video links and autonomous navigation systems.
• Experience integrating specialist payloads such as EO/IR cameras, LiDAR, multispectral sensors, mapping cameras or other mission equipment.
• Ability to configure, calibrate and tune flight-control systems and analyse flight logs.
• Practical competence in electronics, soldering, wiring, embedded systems, sensors and communications equipment.
• Experience with CAD software and engineering design tools.
• Knowledge of additive manufacturing, CNC processes, composite materials, rapid prototyping or related production technologies.
• Ability to develop technical documentation, manufacturing procedures, inspection standards and testing protocols.
• Familiarity with recognised quality-management or aerospace-manufacturing standards would be an advantage.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
The successful candidate must demonstrate:
• A genuine and intense passion for drones, engineering and advanced UAV customisation.
• Exceptional self-motivation, personal discipline and work ethic.
• High standards of integrity, accountability and professional conduct.
• Strong technical judgement and practical problem-solving ability.
• Close attention to detail and an uncompromising commitment to product quality.
• The ability to work independently and make sound technical decisions.
• The ability to build systems, processes and teams from the ground up.
• Strong leadership, communication and mentoring capabilities.
• A willingness to remain directly involved in assembly, testing and troubleshooting.
• The resilience and determination required to establish a new manufacturing operation.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit:
• A detailed curriculum vitae.
• A concise cover letter explaining their suitability for the position.
• A technical portfolio showing UAVs or related systems they have designed, assembled, integrated, repaired or customised.
• Photographs, videos, drawings or links supporting the submitted portfolio.
• Copies of relevant academic and professional qualifications.
• Details of their current location, availability and willingness to relocate where applicable.
Applications should be sent to: [email protected]
Email subject: Application — Head of UAV Manufacturing & Engineering
Closing date: 17 July 2026
Only candidates with demonstrable hands-on UAV engineering experience will be considered.
Drone Solutions welcomes applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to engineering excellence, innovation and the development of Africa’s drone-manufacturing capability.
