Mechanical Engineer II - Missouri Institute for Defense and Energy

The Missouri Institute for Defense & Energy (MIDE) in the Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI), at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)

The Missouri Institute of Defense & Energy (MIDE) is a leading research institution specializing in applied defense technologies, energy resilience, and advanced autonomous systems. We bridge the gap between academia, industry, and defense by developing cutting-edge solutions for national security, unmanned systems, and next-generation energy technologies.

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support advanced research and development (R&D) in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and robotics as an embedded systems engineer.

As a Mechanical Engineer and researcher at MIDE, you will work with faculty, staff and students on interdisciplinary projects related to UAS, robotic systems, and autonomous system integration. You will be responsible for designing and fabricating embedded systems (autopilots, payloads, etc.) and for developing and integrating guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems into the autonomous platforms. The ideal candidate has strong programming skills, hardware/software integration experience, GNC experience, and leadership capabilities to drive technical innovations from concept to field testing.

This role requires a strong understanding of fundamentals in mechanical engineering and autonomous systems, making it an exciting opportunity to contribute to pioneering research in defense technology and next-generation UAS.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and sub-project management to advance MIDE's research initiatives.
• Collaborate with engineers, scientists, and defense stakeholders to develop and test prototype systems.
• Document research findings and contribute to technical reports, journal articles, conference presentations, white papers, and proposals.
• Conduct mechanical design, prototyping and analysis, for UAS and other robotic systems
• Develop and integrate hardware/software systems for robotics and autonomous platforms.
• Implement control algorithms, path planning, sensor fusion, and automation strategies for UAS.
• Other duties as assigned.

A Bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Active or ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance (must be a U.S. citizen).

Required Skills:

• Ability to lead small technical teams and manage research projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong background in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field.
• Passion for problem-solving and analytical skills in system integration and troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience with sensor integration, embedded systems, and hardware/software interfaces.
• Proficiency in CAD software (ex. SolidWorks) for mechanical design and simulation.
• Experience in coding and software development (ROS2, Python, C++, MATLAB) for autonomous systems.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with UAS flight testing, mission planning, and autonomous navigation.
• Experience with rapid prototyping and 3D printing
• Experience in machine learning and AI applications for autonomous robotics.
• Experience with Department of Defense (DoD) research projects and funding acquisition.

Anticipated starting salary between $65,000 and $80,000 annually commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity.

Posted until filled, review of applications to begin immediately.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.