Staff Mechanical Engineer
Required skills
- Mechanical Engineering
- aircraft structures
- mechanisms
- subsystem integration
- system level thinking
- prototype builds
- hardware integration
- test campaigns
- first principles sizing
- loads analysis
Nice to have
- composite structures
- lightweight aerospace systems
- robotics
- autonomous systems
- startup environment
- rapid hardware development
Role summary
Skyways is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the architecture and development of critical autonomous cargo aircraft systems. This role involves owning complex hardware from concept through production, driving system-level integration, and collaborating with manufacturing and flight operations. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in aircraft structures, mechanisms, and subsystem integration, with a strong track record of taking hardware from initial design to flight validation. Experience with composite structures, robotics, or autonomous systems is a plus. This position is based in Austin, Texas, and offers a hybrid work environment.
Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent nearly a decade developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real world operations.
Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, and V3 has a maximum range of well over 1,000 miles, a maximum useful load of 100 lbs, and a maximum endurance of nearly 20 hours. 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 fly revenue missions for commercial customers across three continents. We are scaling full rate production and building toward large fleets of autonomous cargo aircraft.
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 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 designing aircraft or flight vehicle structures, mechanisms, and subsystem integration
Track record of owning novel hardware from a blank page, including the first principles sizing, loads analysis, and trade studies that set the design, not just execution within an existing architecture
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 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 environments
In addition to base salary, offers include stock options, so you own part of what you build. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, paid holidays, a 401k, and life insurance.
Relocation assistance is available for candidates moving to Austin.
Want 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.
Similar roles
- Systems EngineerSkyways · Austin, TX · Onsite
- Senior Systems EngineerSkyways · Austin, TX · Onsite
- Mechanical Engineer – EIT (HVAC)NELSON · Knoxville, TN · Onsite
- Mechanical Engineer, Power GenerationOpenAI · San Francisco, CA · Onsite
Senior Consultant, Mechanical EngineeringRimkus · Portland, OR · Hybrid
Senior Mechanical Engineer 2 - NuclearSargent & Lundy · Remote · Onsite
