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Captain’s Message
The aerospace industry is among the fastest-growing industries worldwide. In 2025, the market size was estimated at 402.75 billion USD and is projected to double by 2034.
At Queen’s Aerospace Design Team (QADT), we are dedicated to pushing boundaries with the development of high performance & autonomous UAVs for national and international competitions in Canada, Europe, and the United States. With the continued growth in industry aerospace applications in recent years, QADT has seen an unparalleled expansion, and our dedicated team of more than 150 undergraduate students has not disappointed.
This year, the AEAC technical team developed 2 UAVs from the ground up to compete at the AEAC 2026 student competition hosted in Ottawa. Including a 3D printed airframe VTOL to map for urban fires, as well as a heavy-lift quadcopter designed to autonomously extinguish fires indoor and outdoor using a water gun. The AIAA technical team developed a fully carbon fiber fixed wing aircraft optimized for long range cargo flights and banner towing. While in parallel, the QADT research team wrote two research papers for submission to the IMAV conference paper call and the VFS student design competition. Respectively, these papers focused on the application of compliant airfoils on efficiency gains in flight and conversion of a tilt rotor aircraft to a hybrid electric engine to prove the feasibility of electrifying the aerospace industry.
QADT offers a unique opportunity for development and growth for students in any discipline, including gaining technical experience in Aeromechanics, Electrical, and Software, and the opportunity to conduct research in a variety of unique fields, as well as the chance to gain experience in business and management. QADT is looking to continue its rapid growth and expansion by taking on like-minded and motivated individuals to not just continue the development of advanced drone technology, but push the boundaries of what student teams are capable of.
We eagerly await your application.
‘Aviation is proof that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.’
— Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI flying ace
 Erin Payne Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering ‘28 |  Purujit Kantiya Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering ‘28 |
Welcome to the Avionics Team at QADT! At the heart of every UAV is its avionics system, the electrical and electronic components that allow the aircraft to fly. The Avionics team is responsible for the design, integration, and testing of all onboard electrical systems, communication links, sensor integration, flight controller configuration, and system-level wiring.
For the 2026 – 2027 SAE Aero competition, the Avionics team will be responsible for developing a reliable and competition-ready electrical system for QADT's fixed-wing aircraft. SAE Aero challenges student teams to design, build, and fly an aircraft capable of completing a series of mission-based flight tasks while meeting strict design and performance requirements. The Avionics team plays an important role in ensuring the aircraft operates safely, reliably, and efficiently throughout all phases of competition.
As a member of the executive team, the Avionics Manager will oversee all Avionics sub-team operations throughout the design cycle. They will work closely with the Autonomy and Testing Team along with airframe considerations with Aerodynamics and Structures to ensure seamless integration between all aircraft subsystems and will be responsible for guiding the electrical system from initial concept through flight-ready hardware.
The Avionics Manager can expect to gain skills in the areas of:
- Electrical Systems Design
- Flight Controller Configuration
- Ground Control Configuration
- Sensor Integration & Data Links
- Systems Integration & Technical Documentation
- Technical Leadership
- Project Management
Application & Interview Details
We do not look at your resume as a deciding factor. We weigh it the least compared to your written application and interview.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: June 27th, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Interviews will occur online after the deadline. We are happy to provide accommodation for these interviews, so please reach out to us and let us know how we can make the process more accessible for you!
Contact Information
Please email any questions or concerns to aero @engsoc.queensu.ca or text @queensaero on Instagram!