Aerospace Mechanical Engineer — Autonomous Aircraft Systems

Pyka; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays

Snacks

Job summary

Pyka is seeking a highly skilled Mechanical Engineer to join its cargo aircraft team. You will lead the mechanical design and integration of key aircraft components, from detailed CAD to prototyping and testing, collaborating closely with cross-functional engineering teams.

You will perform structural analysis, apply GD&T, generate 3D CAD models and drawings (SolidWorks preferred), and support integration into airframes while mentoring junior engineers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 3+ years of mechanical design experience, preferably in aerospace or high-performance vehicle environments.
• Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks highly preferred), including modeling of complex assemblies.
• Solid understanding of structural design principles and material properties.
• Experience with basic stress analysis, both analytical (hand calcs) and FEA (e.g., SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS).
• Practical knowledge of tolerancing, fits, and GD&T.
• Experience with component integration into airframes or structural assemblies.
• Comfortable with hands-on prototyping, fabrication, and testing.
• Effective communicator and team collaborator with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical components and assemblies with consideration for aircraft environments and performance.
• Perform basic structural and stress analysis (hand calculations and FEA) to validate designs.
• Apply GD&T and appropriate tolerancing to ensure manufacturability and proper assembly.
• Generate detailed 3D CAD models and engineering drawings (SolidWorks preferred).
• Support structural integration of components into composite and metallic airframe structures.
• Design basic tooling and fixtures to support prototyping and testing.
• Lead hands‑on prototyping, assembly, and testing of mechanical systems.
• Collaborate with aeromechanical, propulsion, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust requirement definition and collaboration across systems.
• Contribute to design reviews and mentor junior engineers as needed.

Skills

CAD skills

Stress analysis

Prototyping

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

SolidWorks Simulation

Job description

Pyka is seeking a highly skilled Mechanical Engineer to join its cargo aircraft team. You will lead the mechanical design and integration of key aircraft components, from detailed CAD to prototyping and testing, collaborating closely with cross-functional engineering teams.

You will perform structural analysis, apply GD&T, generate 3D CAD models and drawings (SolidWorks preferred), and support integration into airframes while mentoring junior engineers.