Posted 2 months ago

Staff Mechanical Engineer

AustinOn-siteFull-time

AI Summary

Staff Mechanical Engineer leads architecture and development of critical aircraft structures, driving system‑level integration and guiding hardware from concept through build, test, and flight validation.

About this role

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. We have been flying real missions with real customers since 2017.

Our V2 carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles and our V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000 miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a dual-hybrid design that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane. We are currently flying on three continents, in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight, and in support of U.S. military operations.

Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, we are moving from prototype to full-rate production with a path to Program of Record. Based in Austin, we are scaling fast and hiring people who want to build the world's largest fleet of autonomous logistics aircraft.

The Opportunity

Skyways is hiring a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the architecture and development of critical aircraft systems. This role owns complex hardware from early concept through build, testing, and flight validation.

Staff engineers play a key role in defining mechanical design strategy across the aircraft, helping guide subsystem architecture, resolving system level challenges, and supporting engineers across the team. This role requires deep technical expertise and the ability to move quickly through design, build, and test cycles.

What You'll Do:

Lead the architecture, design, integration, and validation of critical aircraft structures

Own complex aircraft hardware from early concept through detailed design, prototype build, ground test, flight test, and iteration

Drive system level integration across structures, avionics, propulsion, and payload systems, to resolve interface, packaging, and performance tradeoffs

Partner closely with manufacturing to ensure designs are buildable, testable, and capable of scaling from prototype to repeatable production

Participate in aircraft builds, integration efforts, and flight test campaigns

Mentor engineers and help define engineering standards and best practices

Help identify and resolve system level design challenges across the aircraft

What You'll Bring:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field

Deep experience with mechanical design, structures, and subsystem integration

Experience taking hardware from concept through build, testing, and deployment

Strong system level thinking and ability to resolve complex integration challenges

Strong track record of working directly with prototype builds, hardware integration, and test campaigns, not just analysis or documentation

Ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations teams

Bonus Points:

Experience designing aircraft structures or flight hardware

Experience with composite structures or lightweight aerospace systems

Experience leading hardware development in robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems

Experience working in startup or rapid hardware development environment

Skills

Aerospace HardwareArchitecture DefinitionBest PracticesComposite StructuresDesign For ManufacturabilityDevelopment Through DeploymentEngineering StandardsFlight HardwareFlight TestGround TestInterface ManagementManufacturing CollaborationMaterials SelectionMechanical DesignPackagingPrototype BuildRobotics HardwareServo/actuator IntegrationStructuresSubsystem IntegrationSystems Thinking

Staff Mechanical Engineer

About this role

The Opportunity

What You'll Do:

What You'll Bring:

Bonus Points:

Skills

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