Location: Kyiv, Ukraine Function: Engineering / Product Reports to: Engineering Leadership Role type: Full-time, in person Language requirements: English B1 Reservation: We are able to discuss reservations for critical candidates with significant experience.
About Occam
Occam Industries is a British-Ukrainian MilTech company building a hardware-agnostic software for next-generation defence capabilities.
We work directly with leading Ukrainian OEMs to bring autonomy to the frontline at scale — turning existing unmanned platforms into autonomous systems. Our technology is already deployed by Ukrainian brigades in combat, helping operators hit targets.
We believe in strength for peace. Ukraine has proved that a free society can defend its freedom when its citizens are willing and able to defend it. OCCAM exists to give those citizens the capability to do so.
We are based in Kyiv and well funded, giving us the resources to build and deploy at speed.
Your mission
We’re looking for a hands-on engineer to take ownership of incoming drones from OEM partners — confirm they’re fit to fly, resolve or escalate issues, and hand them over to pilots in a ready and reliable state.
This role sits between OEM supply, engineering, testing and pilot operations. You’ll be the person who makes sure aircraft arriving into Occam aren’t just present, but actually usable. When it’s done well, pilots don’t lose time on issues that should have been caught earlier, engineering gets clear feedback on recurring defects, and OEM quality improves.
This is a hands-on engineering role in a fast-moving defence-tech environment. It takes strong technical judgement, attention to detail, practical problem-solving and the confidence to say when something isn’t ready.
What you’ll own
Incoming drone acceptance
Run structured acceptance checks on UAS platforms arriving from OEMs
Inspect airframes, wiring, connectors, batteries, payload interfaces and control systems for defects, missing parts or poor build quality
Confirm each aircraft matches the required build standard, configuration and documentation
Record acceptance status clearly before it moves to the next stage
Integration and configuration
Prepare drones for use with Occam’s systems, software and procedures
Carry out configuration, calibration and setup before test or handover
Apply approved software, firmware and configuration updates with engineering
Keep every change recorded and traceable
Flight readiness and functional testing
Run pre-flight functional checks to confirm the aircraft can fly safely and reliably
Support ground testing, systems checks and controlled test activities
Work with pilots and test teams to confirm readiness before handover
Maintain a clear pass / fail / hold status for each drone
Defect management and OEM feedback
Log quality issues found during inspection, integration, testing or handover
Capture defects clearly — photos, notes, serial numbers, evidence
Keep the OEM quality tracker updated so recurring problems get spotted and escalated
Work with engineering and supplier teams on root causes, and track fixes to closure
Handover to pilots
Hand drones over in a clear, consistent, ready-to-use state
Confirm the pilot has the correct aircraft, equipment, documentation and known-status info
Brief pilots on relevant configuration notes, limitations or recent fixes
Record every handover — who took the aircraft and when
Process and workspace discipline
Keep accurate records of status, defects, fixes, test outcomes and handovers
Keep the Kanban / tracking board current and drones stored by status
Maintain labelling, tagging and inventory control
Help improve the acceptance process as volumes grow
Required experience
Hands-on experience with drones, UAVs, UAS platforms, robotics, electronics or aviation systems
Strong practical skills: inspection, troubleshooting, configuration and repair
Experience with structured checks, acceptance testing or
