Lead Engineer – Ground Control Station (GCS) & Hardware Simulator

Who we are

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 Lead Engineer for Ground Control Stations and Hardware Simulators , you will serve as the primary technical authority for the mechanical, electrical, and systems architecture of military-grade, ruggedised hardware. Based in Germany, you will own the full lifecycle of GCS units, from portable field systems to vehicle-integrated configurations, and high-fidelity Hardware-in-the-Loop simulators. Your work sits at the intersection of hardware engineering and operational deployment: translating design intent into physical systems that perform reliably in harsh environments. You will bridge software teams, mechanical designers, and production partners, ensuring that every system shipped meets the uncompromising standards that defence operations demand. The day-to-day

Define and drive a modular, scalable hardware architecture for GCS units and simulation racks, ensuring strict compliance with MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461, and delivering systems that are maintainable and upgradable in the field Work on Modular Hardware Design by establishing and driving a highly modular, scalable, and service-friendly hardware architecture for GCS units and simulation racks, ensuring ease of maintenance and upgradability.

Lead hands-on prototyping, wiring, and assembly of early-stage GCS and simulator units, taking designs from CAD through to workshop floor reality, including cabling, custom wire harnesses, power distribution, and UPS integration

Oversee the physical and electrical integration of subsystems including high-performance computing, rugged displays, RF communication datalinks, and pilot control interfaces, ensuring coherent and robust electro-mechanical outcomes

Define and execute rigorous verification and validation plans covering thermal chamber, vibration, and ingress protection testing, producing documented evidence of compliance for defence and programme stakeholders

Collaborate with fabrication partners, CNC machinists, sheet metal manufacturers, and cable assembly houses to ensure design for manufacturing, smooth pilot production runs, and on-time delivery against programme milestones

You should apply if you

Have designed and shipped ruggedised electronic enclosures or portable field equipment for aerospace, defence, robotics, or heavy-industrial simulator programmes, with demonstrable compliance against military or industrial environmental standards

Bring practical, hands-on proficiency across the full build cycle, including crimping, soldering, mechanical assembly, and hardware fault-finding using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and other bench instruments

Have produced electrical system documentation including power budgets, grounding schematics, wire-harness drawings, and connector selection (e.g. Amphenol, Glenair) to a standard suitable for handover to manufacturing partners Have deep knowledge of military and industrial standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, IP ratings) and practical methods for achieving EMI shielding and shock/vibration isolation. Are familiar with UAV systems and simulation (e.g., Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, Pixhawk/PX4 flight controllers, ROS, and flight simulator software) is a strong asset.

Are proficient in 3D CAD modelling tools such as SolidWorks or Siemens NX for mechanical enclosure design, rack-mount layouts, and sheet metal fabrication packages

Communicate clearly in English across multidisciplinary teams, acting as the effective interface between software developers, mechanical designers, and workshop or production staff

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

Familiarity with UAV systems and simulation environments, including Hardware-in-the-Loop testing, Pixhawk/PX4 flight controllers, ROS, or flight simulator software integration

Experience coordinating supp