Staff Mechanical Engineer

Skyways Mechanical Systems EngineerSkyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations.Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, while our next-generation V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000+ miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a hybrid-electric architecture that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane, enabling long-range autonomous delivery without traditional runway infrastructure.Today, Skyways aircraft operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. We are transitioning from prototype development to full-rate production and scaling toward large autonomous cargo fleets.Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force, Skyways is creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization from Austin, Texas.The OpportunityThis role owns major aircraft systems from early architecture through flight operations.You will lead the design and development of critical mechanical systems across autonomous aircraft platforms, driving decisions that directly impact aircraft performance, reliability, manufacturability, and operational capability.This role requires deep technical judgment, strong first-principles engineering, and the ability to move quickly through design, integration, testing, and iteration. You will work across structures, mechanisms, integration, and vehicle-level design challenges while helping guide technical direction across the broader mechanical organization.You will collaborate closely with electrical, autonomy, manufacturing, and flight teams to develop flight-ready hardware and solve system-level problems in a fast-moving development environment.The ideal candidate has experience leading complex hardware development programs in aerospace, robotics, automotive, or other high-performance mechanical systems.What You'll Do:Lead the design and development of aircraft structures, mechanisms, and integrated mechanical systemsOwn major hardware systems from concept through flight testing and production releaseMake system-level tradeoffs across weight, manufacturability, reliability, performance, and operational constraintsDrive CAD development, drawing release, and engineering documentationSupport aircraft integration, prototype builds, and flight test activitiesWork closely with manufacturing teams to improve assembly processes and production readinessTroubleshoot hardware issues identified during integration, testing, and flight operationsCollaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and flight teams to deliver integrated aircraft systemsMentor engineers and help raise engineering standards across the organizationWhat You'll Bring:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field8+ years of experience developing complex mechanical systemsStrong CAD experience, preferably in SolidWorks or similar toolsExperience owning hardware through the full product lifecycle from concept through deploymentStrong understanding of structures, materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical integrationHands-on experience with prototyping, testing, and hardware debuggingAbility to make sound engineering decisions under aggressive timelines and operational constraintsStrong communication and cross-functional collaboration skillsExperience leading technical projects or mentoring engineersBonus Points:Experience with aerospace, UAV, robotics, or autonomous systemsExperience designing lightweight structures or composite assembliesFamiliarity with rapid hardware iteration and low-volume aircraft productionExperience supporting flight test or operational deploymentsExperience with FEA, GD&T, or tolerance analysisWant to join our mission? Apply to learn more!Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.