Technical Excellence
A commitment to deep, accurate, and responsible engineering.
About Zickel Engineering
Engineering Built on Experience
A focused team of senior engineers solving demanding multidisciplinary challenges across defense technology, aerospace, and mission-critical systems.
01Our Story
A clear vision, held for more than two decades.
Established 2002- 2002
Zickel Engineering was founded.
- 20+ Years
A focused multidisciplinary engineering practice.
- 2025
Operations through Airobotics as part of the Ondas Group.
Founded in 2002 by the late Robert Zickel, Zickel Engineering was built on a clear vision: to create a highly capable engineering company able to solve complex multidisciplinary challenges with creativity, technical excellence, and speed.
More than two decades later, that vision continues to define who we are.
We work alongside Israel’s leading defense companies, system integrators, and innovative technology companies, helping them solve technically demanding engineering challenges across the entire product lifecycle.
From early concept development and system architecture to integration, field testing, and production support, we provide the expertise needed to move critical projects forward.
Our customers turn to us when they need experienced engineers who can quickly become part of their team, contribute from day one, and take ownership of complex technical challenges.
Whether supporting an established defense program or transforming a new idea into a deployable product, we focus on practical engineering solutions that deliver real results.
CONTINUITY / 01
Today, Zickel Engineering operates through Airobotics as part of the Ondas Group. While our ownership has evolved, our way of working has not.
We remain the same focused team of senior engineers, committed to the principles, technical standards, and customer-first approach that have defined Zickel Engineering since its founding.
Led by CEO Hofit Apfeldorf, the team continues to build on Robert’s legacy and move the company forward.
02Robert Zickel
The Engineering Philosophy Behind Zickel.
ROBERT ZICKEL 1954-2026
Robert Zickel founded Zickel Engineering in 2002 after a distinguished 25-year career at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
An aeronautical engineer with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, he spent more than 45 years solving some of Israel’s most complex aerospace and defense engineering challenges.
Throughout his career, Robert worked across navigation, inertial systems, missile technologies, flight control, and systems engineering.
He developed particular expertise in modeling, simulation, and performance analysis of airborne systems, becoming a recognized authority in MATLAB and sharing his knowledge through professional training and mentoring.
What set Robert apart was not only his technical expertise but also his ability to connect disciplines.
He approached engineering with a systems perspective, combining mechanics, electronics, software, physics, and algorithms to solve problems others considered too complex.
From defining operational requirements to integration, testing, and production, he believed engineering excellence came from understanding the complete system rather than isolated components.
Beyond his engineering work, Robert was passionate about mentoring the next generation of engineers, supporting students, sharing knowledge, and remaining closely connected to Israel’s engineering community through professional conferences and industry collaboration.
His curiosity, creativity, and commitment to strengthening Israel’s technological capabilities became the foundation of Zickel Engineering.
More than two decades later, those same values continue to guide the company: technical excellence, creative thinking, multidisciplinary engineering, and an unwavering commitment to solving complex challenges.
Engineering excellence comes from understanding the complete system, not isolated components.
The principle Robert worked by
03The Principles That Continue
Four principles, still in force.
Robert’s approach remains visible in how the company evaluates problems, connects disciplines, and takes responsibility for complete systems.
Creative Thinking
The ability to approach complex problems from new and practical directions.
Multidisciplinary Engineering
Connecting systems, mechanics, electronics, software, physics, and algorithms.
Ownership
Taking responsibility for the complete challenge from definition through deployment.
Next Step
Bring Senior Engineering Experience Into Your Next Project.
Tell us where the project stands and what is in the way. We will tell you, plainly, how we would approach it.