The founding team
Obsidian is moving from concept to a quarter-scale prototype. These eight roles will design it, build it, integrate it and fly it.
Every role comes with equity. Salaries depend on closing our funding round. No work will be asked of anyone until it closes.
Eight roles
Each has a page with the full role and its application.
Lead UAV design engineer
Lead the design of the quarter-scale Obsidian prototype, from configuration and aerodynamics to systems integration.
- Arrangement: Hybrid, Portugal preferred
- Experience: Five years or more
- Indicative salary: €55,000 to €75,000
Lead structures and manufacturing engineer
Lead the airframe's structures and the way it is made, from tooling and assembly to the prototype's fabrication.
- Arrangement: Hybrid, Portugal preferred
- Experience: Five years or more
- Indicative salary: €50,000 to €70,000
Lead avionics and systems integration engineer
Lead the integration of flight control, communications, sensors, power, payloads and ground control, and its testing.
- Arrangement: Hybrid, Portugal preferred
- Experience: Five years or more
- Indicative salary: €55,000 to €75,000
Lead flight test engineer and pilot
Lead the ground and flight test campaigns, fly the test aircraft where applicable, and analyse the flight data.
- Arrangement: Hybrid, Portugal preferred
- Experience: Five years or more
- Indicative salary: €60,000 to €85,000
Lead prototype manufacturing specialist
Lead the hands-on assembly, manufacture, modification and maintenance of the prototype, in the workshop in Portugal.
- Arrangement: Mostly on site, Portugal
- Experience: Five years or more
- Indicative salary: €40,000 to €55,000
Lead project and configuration coordinator
Keep the programme's documentation, configuration, changes, schedules and procurement in order, and report on them.
- Arrangement: Hybrid, Portugal preferred
- Experience: Five years or more
- Indicative salary: €40,000 to €60,000
Graduate aerospace engineer
Work across the whole programme, from CAD and design reviews to assembly, testing and flight-test preparation.
- Arrangement: Hybrid, Portugal preferred
- Experience: Graduate, or up to two years
- Indicative salary: €22,000 to €32,000
Finance and business analyst
Support the programme's budgets, forecasts, business cases, market analysis, grant applications and reporting.
- Arrangement: Hybrid, Portugal preferred
- Experience: Three to five years
- Indicative salary: €35,000 to €55,000
Terms for every role
Founding team
Every role here is a founding team position.
Equity
Every role comes with equity. The terms are set out with the offer.
Salary
Each role states an indicative range, in euros, gross a year.
Funding
Salaries depend on closing our funding round. No work will be asked of anyone until it closes.
Asked of every role
- Experience in aerospace, UAVs, defence, aviation or advanced technology is highly desirable.
- Positions are hybrid, with a strong preference for candidates based in Portugal or willing to relocate.
- A strong command of English is required; Portuguese is an advantage.
- Proficiency in a modern engineering CAD tool, such as SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX or Fusion 360, is highly desirable for every engineering position and preferred for the graduate role.
- A willingness to support prototype development, manufacturing, systems integration, ground testing and flight testing as the programme requires.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced start-up and contribute across disciplines while the aircraft is in early development.
- Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the EU, preferably in Portugal, or be willing to relocate if selected.
Where the programme stands
The command layer exists as a simulation and software-in-the-loop demonstrator at TRL 3 to 4. The targeting and engagement pipeline runs against simulated sensors and simulated effectors. The aircraft is in design. A sub-scale physical demonstrator is planned for H1 2027. No live weapons have been integrated or fired.
How to apply
Each role's page carries its application. It takes a few minutes, and it comes straight to us.