Hands-on Propulsion Engineer (Combustion) – Aerospace

Pyka; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision insurance

401(k)

Paid holidays, generous PTO

Disability insurance

Pre-tax commuter benefits

Free catered lunch and snacks

Job summary

Pyka is seeking a Propulsion Mechanical Engineer to bridge airframe design and propulsion integration. You will own engine and thermal management components from concept to serial production, moving quickly, performing analyses, and spending time in the prototyping shop and CAD.

The role emphasizes hands‑on design, test stands, vibration and thermal loads, and collaborating with Manufacturing and Flight Test to resolve hardware issues and improve durability.

Qualifications

• 1-4+ years of professional experience in mechanical design, ideally in aerospace, automotive, or high‑performance vehicles.
• Strong engine knowledge with combustion engines and thermal management understanding.
• First principles sizing and quick hand calculations for fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and structural mechanics.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD and FEA to validate design decisions.
• Basic understanding of CNC, sheet metal, 3D printing, and composite integration.
• Hands‑on mindset with shop experience and ability to instrument and assemble hardware.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with proactive problem‑solving.

Responsibilities

• Design Responsible Engineer (DRE): own mechanical components from definition through prototyping, testing, and serial production.
• Propulsion Systems Design: design mounts, cooling ducts, and integration hardware for combustion systems.
• Analysis & Validation: use hand calculations and FEA/CFD to validate stress, stiffness, and thermal management.
• Prototyping & Testing: lead hands‑on assembly of propulsion systems and create tooling/fixtures for testing.
• Documentation: produce high‑fidelity 3D CAD and detailed engineering drawings with GD&T.
• Cross‑functional Collaboration: work with Manufacturing and Flight Test to quickly root‑cause hardware issues.

Skills

Combustion engines

3D CAD

FEA

CFD

Hands-on prototyping

GD&T

Mechanical design

Tools

SolidWorks

FEA software

CFD software

Job description

Pyka is seeking a Propulsion Mechanical Engineer to bridge airframe design and propulsion integration. You will own engine and thermal management components from concept to serial production, moving quickly, performing analyses, and spending time in the prototyping shop and CAD.

The role emphasizes hands‑on design, test stands, vibration and thermal loads, and collaborating with Manufacturing and Flight Test to resolve hardware issues and improve durability.