Mechanical Designer / Prototyping Engineer

About Us

STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments.

We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems—not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe—today.

About the team Minerva is STARK's command and control software — the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems across multiple domains in real time. The Minerva team is a small, senior software group based in Berlin and Munich, working directly with our systems and hardware teams to build mission-critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments.
We move fast, ship real software, and operate under constraints most engineers never encounter — low-bandwidth networks, air-gapped devices, high-stakes decision loops. There is no room for abstraction for its own sake. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field. Your mission

To turn ideas, requirements, and rough concepts into functional mechanical prototypes that can be built, tested, improved, and deployed quickly.

As a Mechanical Designer / Prototyping Engineer, you will work at the intersection of mechanical design, hands-on prototyping, hardware integration, and rapid iteration. This is not a purely desk-based design role. You will move seamlessly between CAD, the workshop, test setups, and integration environments, helping engineering teams translate concepts into practical, manufacturable, and robust solutions for unmanned systems and related hardware platforms.

You will be expected to think fast, solve problems independently, and build what you design. The role requires a strong maker mentality, high practical intelligence, and the ability to create simple, reliable solutions under real-world constraints.

Responsibilities

• Mechanical Design & Prototyping: Design mechanical parts, assemblies, fixtures, enclosures, mounts, brackets, adapters, and integration components for unmanned systems, ground systems, and related hardware platforms.

• Rapid Iteration: Work in short, agile development and integration loops, quickly adapting designs based on feedback from engineering, testing, production, and operational use.

• Design for Manufacturing & Assembly: Develop simple, robust, and manufacturable designs that can be produced quickly in-house or with external manufacturing partners.

• Hands-On Fabrication: Build, modify, assemble, and repair prototypes using 3D printers, hand tools, power tools, soldering equipment, workshop machinery, and other practical fabrication methods.

• Prototype Assembly & Integration: Assemble mechanical and electromechanical prototypes, integrate them with electronic components, cables, sensors, antennas, power components, and other hardware elements.

• Testing & Validation: Test prototypes in workshop, lab, and field environments, identify mechanical weaknesses or integration issues, and implement practical improvements.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, hardware, electronics, software, production, and field testing teams to ensure mechanical designs meet functional, operational, and integration requirements.

• Documentation: Create and maintain clear technical documentation, including CAD files, drawings, assembly instructions, parts lists, prototype notes, and lessons learned from testing and iteration.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of practical experience in mechanical design, prototyping, hardware development, product development, or a related hands-on engineering environment.

• Educational Background: Degree or vocational background in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Product Development, Industrial Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field. Exceptional practical experience may compensate for formal education.

• CAD Proficiency: Strong skills in 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, Autodesk Fusion 360, Inventor, CATIA, Siemens NX, or similar tools.

• Hands-On Prototyping Experience: Proven experience building, modifying, assembling, and testing physical prototypes, not only designing them digitally.

• 3D Printing Expertise: Strong practical understanding of 3D printing technologies, especially FDM and ideally SLA/SLS, including material selection, printer operation, calibration, tolerances, and design-for-print considerations.

• Workshop Readiness: Confident and safe use of common workshop tools, hand tools, power drills, soldering equipment, basic machinery, fastening methods, adhesives, and manual assembly techniques.

• Design Pragmatism: Strong understanding of tolerances, materials, fasteners, mechanical interfaces, load paths, vibration and thermal loads, environmental exposure, manufacturability, serviceability, and efficient assembly.

• Mindset: Highly proactive, self-reliant, practical, and comfortable working in a fast-moving, experimental environment with incomplete information.

• Communication and collaboration: Ability to communicate clearly with other engineers, technicians, and cross-functional stakeholders to integrate electronics, sensors, radios, power systems, and structural components as well as to document work in a structured and understandable way.

• Clearance: Ability to obtain appropriate security clearance (EU/NATO).

Nice to have

• Experience in defence, aerospace, UAVs, robotics, automotive, motorsport environments.

• Experience designing and building components for drones, ground control stations, sensor payloads, field equipment, ruggedized hardware, or mobile systems.

• Experience with composite, foam, plastic, aluminium, sheet metal, or lightweight structural components.

• Knowledge of basic electronics integration, cable routing, connector mounting, power components, sensors, antennas, or embedded hardware.

• Experience with CNC machining, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, vacuum forming, casting, or other rapid manufacturing methods.

• Experience creating technical drawings, assembly instructions, BOMs, and manufacturing documentation.

• Strong German skills and good English skills are a plus, especially for collaboration with local teams, suppliers, and operational stakeholders.

If you're interested in building the future of European Defence with us, and you see yourself reflected on the description above, please send us your CV in English. We´re looking forward to meeting you!