Chief Technology Officer - UAV Systems

About the CompanyOrganization: Raghu Vamsi Par East Automation Pvt. Ltd. (Arrobot)Location: HyderabadReports to: Chief Executive OfficerAbout the RoleArrobot is seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to own the technology strategy and engineering execution behind its UAV and UGV programs. Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Board, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will lead the engineering organization end-to-end — from R&D and platform architecture through certification and production readiness. This is an opportunity to build and scale a deep-tech engineering organization inside a group that already has manufacturing scale, defence relationships, and international aerospace customers in place.ResponsibilitiesTechnology Strategy & Roadmap Define and own technology roadmap across our UAV and UGV platforms, aligning R&D investment with program priorities and market opportunitySet engineering architecture standards and technical direction across airframes, propulsion, avionics, autonomy software, technical documentation, and payload systemsIdentify and evaluate emerging technologies — autonomy, swarm systems, propulsion, materials — for strategic relevance, and make build-vs-partner-vs-acquire recommendationsOwn IP strategy, including patent filings and protection of proprietary technologyEngineering Leadership & Execution Lead the full engineering organization spanning mechanical design, embedded systems, robotics/autonomy software, systems engineering, propulsion, and integrationOwn engineering execution quality across concurrent UAV and UGV programs, partnering closely with program management on deliveryBuild and scale the engineering team, including hiring, structuring, and developing engineering leadership across functional areasDrive engineering process maturity — design review discipline, configuration management, and design-to-certification handoffCertification, Compliance & Government Relations Own the technical relationship with certification bodies such as CEMILAC and DGAQA, ensuring engineering practices support certification and airworthiness requirementsRepresent Arrobot's technology capability directly to defence customers, government stakeholders, and OEM partnersSupport technology transfer and indigenisation initiatives, working with DRDO and domestic partners on absorption of critical technologiesOrganizational & Board Engagement Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to overall business strategy alongside the CEO and COOPresent technology strategy, engineering risk, and program technical status to the BoardPartner with the COO on manufacturing readiness and production scale-up from prototype through full-rate productionQualificationsBachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electronics, or a related engineering discipline; PhD a plusRequired Skills15+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, defence, or advanced autonomous systems, including 5+ years in a senior technology leadership role (CTO, VP Engineering, or equivalent)Demonstrated track record of building and scaling engineering organizations, ideally in a UAV, robotics, or defence manufacturing environmentDeep technical fluency across multiple engineering domains — mechanical/structural, propulsion, avionics/embedded systems, and autonomy softwareExperience navigating defence certification and regulatory environments (CEMILAC, DGAQA, DRDO, or international equivalents)Track record of engaging directly with government, defence, and OEM stakeholders at a senior levelPreferred SkillsLeadership Competencies Strategic thinker who can translate technology vision into an executable engineering roadmapComfortable operating both at the architecture whiteboard and in the boardroomStrong people leader with experience building high-performing engineering teams from the ground upHigh personal integrity and judgment, given the security-sensitive nature of defence programsResilient under the ambiguity and pace typical of a scaling deep-tech organization