Mechanical Engineer

About the Role

We're hiring Mechanical Engineers across all levels. Apply regardless of years of experience; we'll place you at the right level based on your background and how you perform through the interview process. You'll take mechanical assemblies from concept through design, prototyping, testing, and into a shipped product, working closely with flight systems, composites, manufacturing, and external vendors along the way. We're looking for engineers who've shipped real hardware before, ideally having seen a product through at least one full development lifecycle, and who are comfortable owning a problem from first sketch to flying part. We're hiring for two kinds of strength on this team, and you should be strong in at least one: detailed mechanism design, or composites and structures.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Systems Design

• Design and develop mechanical systems and assemblies for our aircraft, from early concept through production intent
• Build and test prototypes yourself - this is a hands-on role where you will own an end-to-end mechanical system from concept through testing through production

Analysis & Validation

• Run load calculations, tolerance stacks, basic FEA, and weight budgets to validate designs before they're cut or molded

Manufacturing Process Collaboration

• Work with composites layup, injection molding, additive manufacturing, and CNC machining to choose the right process for each part

Composites & Structures Track

• If focused on composites/structures: build and improve how we model and design composite structures (laminate design, layup optimization, and structural analysis) rather than just building to a fixed layup

Mechanism Design Track

• If focused on mechanism design: select the right actuation hardware for the job (servos, stepper motors, and similar) and write short scripts to drive and test them

Vendor & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with external vendors and fabrication shops to get parts made to spec, on time
• Translate requirements from internal teams (flight systems, manufacturing, product) and external stakeholders into concrete mechanical designs
• Chase down the details that make the difference between a part that works on the bench and one that survives a thousand flights

Qualifications

Must-Have

• Advanced proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD
• Working knowledge of load calculations, tolerance analysis, basic FEA, and weight budgeting
• Ability to do first principles checks on loads, forces, energies with napkin calcs, or free body diagrams
• Hands-on experience designing and prototyping mechanical/electromechanical assemblies for robotics applications
• Familiarity with the basics of composites layup, injection molding, additive manufacturing, and machining
• Strength in at least one of the following:
  • Detailed mechanism design (including selecting the right actuation hardware - servos, stepper motors, and similar - and writing short scripts to drive and test them)
  • Composites and structures (including composite modeling and analysis, not just layup execution)
• Basic project management skills - able to scope, plan, and run your own projects with minimal oversight
• Strong attention to detail and genuine ownership over the parts you touch
• Clear communicator, comfortable working directly with both internal engineering teams and external vendors
• Willingness to go the extra mile when a project needs it

Good to Have

• Experience with designing / building parts for UAV or aerospace applications
• Hands-on project experience (BAJA, FSAE, or similar build teams) is a great substitute for professional experience, especially earlier in your career

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health insurance to keep you and your loved ones covered
• Relocation assistance and a daily travel stipend to ease your commute
• Advanced salary credit to support you when you need it

“A driven, passionate team where you’ll have room to grow and thrive - this is more than just a job, it’s a rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up”

Work Schedule:

• In-office role, working alternate Saturdays.