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R&D Lead
About Airbound
Our mission is to make a world where everyone has access to delivery. Where goods move as freely as information moves today.
This is possible. Today the cost of moving on a scooter is ₹2/km. That’s the cost of moving a 150kg mass from point A to B. We’re bringing that mass down to less than 5kgs, concurrently bringing the cost down to 10 paise/km. This is how we make deliveries a reality. This is how we create a world where we’re doing billions of deliveries per day.
The tech is not there. The current cost of drone delivery is ₹100/km. We need to completely redefine the way things are done here. We’re building the world’s most efficient aircraft from the ground-up, and scaling that up to beyond anything the aerospace sector has ever seen. This cannot be an iterative process. We have to tear down all conventions and build everything up from scratch.
To do this, we need nothing less than the best engineers. The ones who care about building something fundamentally different, who are deeply curious about understanding the fundamentals of everything they’re working on, who are dreamers that believe in the impossible.
About R&D
R&D is the lifeblood of the organization. We’re able to justify our existence because of our innovation. While we have designated specializations for areas like composites and flight, R&D covers everything else. It is also where the boundaries between domains dissolve — electrical, mechanical, software, and systems all intersect, and true progress comes from working across these seams.
To make a 1.2kg drone that carries 3kg of payload, there is no room for error. Each mechanism needs to be made the lightest it can be. Every gram matters, but every mechanism also needs to be rigorously tested to meet the life cycle standards we demand out of every aircraft.
R&D is the vehicle through which we redefine what aerial delivery looks like, and build the world's most efficient method of transport from scratch. It's a place to exercise your curiosity, question fundamentals, and at the end of the day, build the impossible.
About Your Role; Problems To Solve
Drive the ideation and structuring of R&D sub-projects—whether focused on improving quality, reliability, payload to weight ratio etc., or building new features to enhance aircraft capabilities.
Break down complex problems into actionable components and lead them through to successful completion.
Apply a disciplined, first-principles approach to R&D, ensuring every decision is supported by data, sound reasoning, and optimal pathways to solution.
Balance innovation and curiosity with accountability to timelines, performance standards, and deployment readiness.
Build and scale the R&D function by mentoring engineers, establishing sub-verticals, and embedding a culture of high-quality innovation.
What We Are Looking For
Demonstrated experience leading R&D initiatives in aerospace, automotives, or other high-performance hardware domains. (Exp: ~5+ Years)
Deep technical expertise in at least one core area (mechanical, electrical, software, controls, or materials) with the ability to integrate across disciplines.
A proven ability to take prototypes from concept through rigorous testing to functional, reliable systems.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to guide sprints, set priorities, and scale an R&D team in a high-velocity environment.
A mindset rooted in first-principles thinking, with curiosity to challenge fundamentals and creativity to develop novel solutions.
What we offer
Comprehensive health insurance to keep you and your loved ones covered
Relocation assistance and a daily travel stipend to ease your commute
Advanced salary credit to support you when you need it
Nutritious, wholesome meals provided daily
“A driven, passionate team where you’ll have room to grow and thrive - this is more than just a job, it’s a rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up”
IMPORTANT NOTE: We’ve paused hiring for this role as we work through a few internal updates. If you’re interested in joining our talent pipeline for future when we re-open this position, you’re welcome to apply now.