Northwest UAV

Northwest UAV When you need to get in the air and stay there, count on the team at Northwest UAV for expertise, en AS9100/ISO9001 Certified DCAA compliant operation.

Providing reliable and cost effective UAV engines, propulsion, and support systems since 2005. As the largest UAV Propulsion System Manufacturer in the U.S., Northwest UAV (NWUAV) continues to prove its reputation for reliable, cost effective and innovative UAV engines and support systems. With meticulous engineering, testing, and manufacturing, we maintain our recognition as America’s leader in U

AV Propulsion Systems. To meet the growing demand for propulsion systems and components required in unmanned vehicles, President and Owner Chris Harris founded Northwest UAV in 2005. Since that day, we have built a team of experienced, onsite research and development engineers who thoroughly understand drone specific requirements and incorporate a total system lifecycle approach. With this experienced team, we have the knowledge and skills to continue to build and deliver the most reliable and cost effective UAS systems in the industry. NWUAV safely and swiftly manages all aspects of product development, from initial concept design through production and beyond to maintenance and overhauls. This allows us to partner with our clients and provide the UAV engines and support systems that best fit their drone and their mission. We offer a variety of products and services to get your UAV in the air faster with more endurance. A few of our more popular products and services include:
- UAV propulsion systems
- Engine Control Unit, Ignitions, & Fuel Injection Systems
- Pegasus Servo Actuators
- Diagnostic and development testing services
- Engine test equipment (CETC, Mobile test stand)
- UAV propulsion and payload engineering

When you need to get in the air and stay there, rely on Northwest UAV to make it happen. Visit our website or contact us today for more information about our UAV engines and services.

Ready to elevate your career? 🚀 At NWUAV, we're building the future of aerospace, and we're looking for passionate, tale...
05/27/2026

Ready to elevate your career? 🚀 At NWUAV, we're building the future of aerospace, and we're looking for passionate, talented individuals to join our incredible team.

Whether you're a seasoned engineer, a recent graduate eager to make your mark, or a skilled technician, we have exciting opportunities waiting for you. Imagine working on cutting-edge projects, pushing boundaries, and contributing to innovations that truly matter.

We pride ourselves on a collaborative and supportive culture where your ideas are valued and your growth is encouraged. Plus, we offer flexible work options and competitive benefits to support a great work-life balance.
..and more! If you're ready to launch your career to new heights with a company that's going places, we want to hear from you.

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Learn more and apply today: https://www.nwuav.com/careers.html

🚀 A UAV engine should solve problems, not create them.The best propulsion systems make aircraft easier to integrate, ope...
05/26/2026

🚀 A UAV engine should solve problems, not create them.

The best propulsion systems make aircraft easier to integrate, operate, and maintain. That matters to engineers managing performance, project managers managing timelines, and business owners managing cost.

At Northwest UAV, propulsion is about balancing power, efficiency, reliability, and serviceability in real operating conditions, not just on a spec sheet.

That practical approach is what turns strong engineering into long-term operational success.

What is the biggest propulsion challenge your team faces today?



https://www.nwuav.com

05/25/2026

🎇 The strongest systems are built on discipline, sacrifice, and trust. The same can be said for the people who have served our nation.

This Memorial Day, Northwest UAV honors the military personnel who gave their lives in service to the United States. Their courage continues to inspire the work being done across the aerospace and defense industries today.

As engineers, project managers, and business leaders, we understand that reliability matters. Missions depend on preparation, precision, and technology that performs under pressure. That standard continues to guide how we build UAV engine solutions for demanding environments around the world.

We remember. We honor. We never forget.



https://www.nwuav.com

05/12/2026

💫 Innovation & Future-Tech Spotlight! We’re excited to exhibit at XPONENTIAL 2026, May 11–14, in Detroit.

XPONENTIAL brings the robotics, autonomy, and uncrewed ecosystem together to see systems in action, compare approaches, and sharpen how autonomy performs in the field.

We’ll be at booth #38022, connecting with peers and sharing perspectives on the NW-44, NW-88, and NW-230 Multi-fuel UAV engines, as well as the NWFC-1500 PEM Fuel Cell.

Explore, connect, and see how autonomy is advancing.



Register today at www.xponential.org

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Cory Fast’s 14 years of dedicated service with NWUAV as our Material Analyst!Cory is a kindh...
05/12/2026

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Cory Fast’s 14 years of dedicated service with NWUAV as our Material Analyst!

Cory is a kindhearted, soft-spoken, and friendly team member who always strives to do his best. In his past life as an NWUAV project manager, he made sure tools were ordered on time, kept everyone productive, and brought a great sense of humor to the team. In his current role as a Material Analyst, Cory is methodical, detail-oriented, and never afraid to dig deep or ask for the right answer when needed. His excellent memory and “tribal knowledge” have helped the team many times, and he’s always searching for better ways of doing things while patiently mentoring others—especially new project managers.

Cory is a devoted and loving father to his two daughters. His world revolves around them, and he proudly supports their activities—from cheerleading to jiu jitsu. He’s also known for his love of restoring old Chevys, taking long motorcycle rides, gathering eggs from his chickens, and enjoying far too much Coca-Cola.

Thank you, Cory, for your reliability, positive attitude, willingness to help and teach others, and for making our team better every day. Fourteen years of quiet dedication and dad jokes — here’s to many more!


https://www.nwuav.com

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Chris Pellegrino’s 14 years of dedicated service with NWUAV as our Senior Aerospace Engineer...
05/07/2026

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Chris Pellegrino’s 14 years of dedicated service with NWUAV as our Senior Aerospace Engineer!

Yes, Chris does have 2 hire dates. He joined us as our very first Engineer way back in 2009. In 2016 Chris took a short hiatus from nothing but UAV Engines to try his hand at a broader variety of precision engineering, but ultimately, he missed us just like I thought he would and returned in 2019. 😉

Chris is a calm and steady presence amid the chaos of multiple concurrent engineering projects. He brings exceptional intelligence, incredible attention to detail, and outstanding problem-solving skills to everything he does. Whether it’s quickly delivering high-quality work or patiently helping others, Chris is the go-to person in the engineering department. He’s generous with his knowledge — from engine cylinders to car types to food — and you almost always walk away having learned something new.

As a mentor and friend, Chris supports everyone from brand-new engineers to seasoned veterans with kindness and cultivated dad jokes. He’s always willing to lend a hand, even when his own plate is overflowing.

Outside of work, Chris is a loving and supportive husband and dad who enjoys family trips and exploring new places. He’s passionate about speedway racing (a skill he honed as a young guy in New York), builds and races go-karts on his property, and is a big animal lover — especially his adorable three-legged rescue dog, Poe (named after the author).

Thank you, Chris, for your calm expertise, your reliability, your willingness to teach and help others, and the positive impact you have on the entire team. Fourteen years of excellence and counting — here’s to many more!


https://www.nwuav.com

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Heather’s 17 years of dedicated service with NWUAV as our Senior Operations Support Speciali...
05/06/2026

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Heather’s 17 years of dedicated service with NWUAV as our Senior Operations Support Specialist!

Heather is the kind of person who will do anything to support her team and make things run smoothly. She stepped into Payables and took it over flawlessly, and she’s always willing to drop whatever she’s doing to help a coworker — giving her full attention and genuinely caring until the issue is resolved. Whether it’s a complex problem or a simple request, she jumps in right away to tackle the task!

Beyond her strong work ethic, Heather brings warmth and personality to the team. She’s genuine, funny (her creative attempts at cussing never fail to make us smile), and has an infectious laugh with just a hint of a snort that brightens everyone’s day. She’s beyond proud of her boys, a devoted dog mom to her German Shepherd, and someone who loves old trucks and watching her dad work on them. Turns out she also shares a very specific fondness for really-really old, super-stale Swedish Fish with Bryan, which can only be kismet since they share office space 😉

Even when life gets heavy, Heather still takes the time to ask how your weekend was and follows up later — a small gesture that means a lot.

Thank you, Heather, for your unwavering reliability, your kindness, your humor, and the way you make NWUAV feel like family. Seventeen years of achievement, dedication and friendship has paved the way for so many more!


https://www.nwuav.com

💫 We’re excited to celebrate Linda Nguyen’s 2 years with NWUAV!Linda joined our small fuel cell group as Project Manage...
05/05/2026

💫 We’re excited to celebrate Linda Nguyen’s 2 years with NWUAV!

Linda joined our small fuel cell group as Project Manager a few years ago, stepping into a highly technical environment with no prior background in fuel cell systems. Her teammates tell me she quickly made herself indispensable through her remarkable ability to absorb new information, ask the right questions, and figure out what needs to be done — often before anyone else realizes it.

As a Project Manager, Linda excels at keeping everyone organized and on track. She regularly checks in on project progress, clearly communicates priorities, and is always willing to jump in and help wherever needed. She manages the complex “spaghetti mess” of NWUAV Project, NRL SBIR, and NAWCAD Extension efforts with impressive clarity — condensing dense engineer-speak into concise, customer-ready bullet points and patiently helping us sort out the right work orders. Even when mistakes happen during translation, she stays cheerful and easy to work with.

Beyond her strong project management skills, Linda brings a wonderful personality to the team. She’s easy-going, fun to talk with, quick to joke around, and somehow maintains a running “truce” with the office dogs (who seem to like her more than she’d prefer). She’s passionate about achieving our project objectives and building the best fuel cell products possible, all while keeping the workplace light and enjoyable.

Thank you, Linda, for your initiative, your calm and positive presence, and the structure, clarity, and good humor you bring to everything you do. Two years in and you’ve already made a lasting impact — we’re lucky to have you!


https://www.nwuav.com

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Caleb Thompson’s 2 years of dedicated service with NWUAV!As a Mechanical Engineer, I am told...
04/30/2026

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Caleb Thompson’s 2 years of dedicated service with NWUAV!

As a Mechanical Engineer, I am told that Caleb is quick to put down the keyboard and pick up the tools himself to get the job done. He keeps the team thoroughly entertained with his quick jokes, zero filter, and endless sense of humor. His teammates say he has a memory like a steel trap and remembers important details about past projects and experiments that somehow never made it into the documentation — which has helped us more than once! He learns fast, dives head-first into new challenges (sometimes literally when no one’s watching), and maintains a great attitude no matter how much we enjoy poking fun at him. Behind the joking and seemingly laid-back style, Caleb is seriously committed to his work. He’s resourceful, determined, and works hard alongside many people to meet project objectives and make things better.

Caleb has a fun, light-hearted presence that makes even the most difficult tasks more enjoyable and keeps the workplace a brighter, more positive environment.

Thank you, Caleb, for your energy, your quick mind, your willingness to jump in, and the laughter you bring every day. Two years in and you’re making a name for yourself – here’s to many more.


https://www.nwuav.com

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Jon’s 15 years of dedicated service with NWUAV!Jon is more than an R&D Engineering Technician...
04/29/2026

💫 We’re proud to celebrate Jon’s 15 years of dedicated service with NWUAV!

Jon is more than an R&D Engineering Technician—he’s unofficially our very first employee, originally joining Chris in that Amity garage back in 2005 before Northwest UAV was, well, Northwest UAV!

Since Jon’s return in 2011 once we were a real company, he has been the steady heartbeat of the Run Room, keeping communication seamless and troubleshooting-free. When anything goes sideways on PC-to-LabVIEW, Intelliject, ConnectPort, or any quirky integration, Jon is the wizard who makes it work again. Speaking of LabVIEW, Jon is or undisputed expert, keeping Run Room systems current and reliable. It is said that every company has “that one person” people turn to when they’re stuck—and to his peers Jon is that guy. Dependable (especially in crunch time), always willing to jump in on random requests—even things he’s never seen—with great humor and zero complaints. Colleagues call him the smartest, hardest-working, funniest person they’ve known, and above all, one of the most honorable men around.

Outside of work, Jon is a barbequing master who believes the best meals consist of meat…and more meat. He’s recently joined the travel trailer camping community and is the ultimate Boy Dad—sharing hilarious stories of camping adventures, hunting trips, skiing outings, school sports, country living, goats, chickens, and all the glorious shenanigans that come with raising boys.

Thank you, Jon, for being the background Run Room Guru! Your team appreciates your quick wit, rock-solid dependability, and the way you make every day some kind of adventure at Northwest UAV. Fifteen years and counting— cheers to many more!


https://www.nwuav.com

Address

11160 SW Durham Lane
McMinnville, OR
97128

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 5pm
Tuesday 7am - 5pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

(503) 434-6845

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