Energetics Systems Integration Lead

Role Overview

Energetics Systems Integration Lead at Destinus. This is a senior, hands-on engineering role providing technical ownership of the integration of missile systems, warheads, fuzes, and payloads for unmanned aerial platforms, from initial assembly through testing and acceptance.

Company Overview

Destinus is revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The company partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness.

Role Purpose

Lead end-to-end technical integration of complex aerospace and defense systems where mechanical, electrical, propulsion, guidance, and energetic components must work together safely and reliably. You will take technical ownership across engineering, safety, quality, manufacturing, and testing teams to solve integration challenges, manage technical risks, and ensure every system meets demanding safety, quality, and performance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Integration Leadership

• Lead end-to-end technical integration of missile subsystems including airframe, propulsion, guidance, warhead, and fuzing components, ensuring alignment with programme specifications, interfaces, and safety requirements.
• Oversee warhead and fuze integration activities, working closely with design, safety, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure functional requirements and safety interlocks are correctly implemented and verified.
• Lead the integration of payloads onto unmanned aerial systems, ensuring compatibility across mechanical, electrical, software, and system-level interfaces.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure explosive handling, storage, transportation, and integration activities are performed in accordance with applicable regulations and site-specific Explosive Safety Standard Operating Procedures (ESSOPs).
• Identify integration risks, technical issues, interface conflicts, and safety hazards early and drive them through mitigation and closure.

Testing & Verification

• Develop and maintain integration test plans, procedures, acceptance criteria, and verification activities together with systems engineering and test teams.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities following integration issues, test anomalies, or safety-related events.

Programme Reviews & Technical Authority

• Act as the technical point of contact for integration activities during internal and customer reviews, safety boards, and key programme milestones.
• Support programme design and readiness reviews including PDR and CDR, providing clear technical assessments of system integration maturity and outstanding risks.

Documentation & Configuration

• Maintain accurate technical documentation supporting configuration control, system traceability, verification, and regulatory audits.

Mentorship & Team Development

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to integration engineers and technicians, helping build strong engineering practices across the team.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in missile, UAS, defense systems integration and testing within defense manufacturing, R&D, or a similarly regulated technical environment.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with warhead and fuze integration processes and the associated safety protocols.
• Practical experience integrating defense systems or payloads onto unmanned aerial platforms.
• Extensive and verifiable experience with the safe handling, storage, transportation, and integration of explosives and energetic materials.
• An advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline is a plus.
• Previous experience within the military, a defense contractor, or a government ordnance facility is highly valued.
• Certification in explosive ordnance handling or safety, such as Qualified Explosives Handler status or an equivalent qualification, is a strong advantage.
• Experience with PDR, CDR, safety case development, qualification, and regulatory certification processes is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, system integration methodologies, verification and validation, and configuration management.
• Experience developing and executing integration test plans and working with complex multidisciplinary hardware systems.
• Ability to confidently read and interpret engineering drawings, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), technical specifications, and system requirements.
• Working knowledge of relevant explosive and ordnance safety requirements such as MIL-STD-1316, MIL-STD-2105, or applicable regional equivalents.
• Strong technical documentation and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, manufacturing, safety, quality, and programme teams.
• Professional working proficiency in English.
• Familiarity with aerospace quality management systems such as AS9100 is beneficial.