Skyways2mo ago

Staff Mechanical Engineer

United States·AustinFull-timelead

EngineeringOtherMechanical EngineerTrades & Skilled LaborStaff Mechanical Engineer

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Quick Summary

Overview

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.

Technical Tools

EngineeringOtherMechanical EngineerTrades & Skilled LaborStaff Mechanical Engineer

Skyways 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 Opportunity

This 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.

Lead the design and development of aircraft structures, mechanisms, and integrated mechanical systems

Own major hardware systems from concept through flight testing and production release

Make system-level tradeoffs across weight, manufacturability, reliability, performance, and operational constraints

Drive CAD development, drawing release, and engineering documentation

Support aircraft integration, prototype builds, and flight test activities

Work closely with manufacturing teams to improve assembly processes and production readiness

Troubleshoot hardware issues identified during integration, testing, and flight operations

Collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and flight teams to deliver integrated aircraft systems

Mentor engineers and help raise engineering standards across the organization

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

8+ years of experience developing complex mechanical systems

Strong CAD experience, preferably in SolidWorks or similar tools

Experience owning hardware through the full product lifecycle from concept through deployment

Strong understanding of structures, materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical integration

Hands-on experience with prototyping, testing, and hardware debugging

Ability to make sound engineering decisions under aggressive timelines and operational constraints

Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Experience leading technical projects or mentoring engineers

Experience with aerospace, UAV, robotics, or autonomous systems

Experience designing lightweight structures or composite assemblies

Familiarity with rapid hardware iteration and low-volume aircraft production

Experience supporting flight test or operational deployments

Experience with FEA, GD&T, or tolerance analysis

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.