Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical Systems

Elroy Air; Byron (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and equity package

Comprehensive health insurance

Flexible time off policy

Job summary

Elroy Air is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and analysis of flight-critical systems for our autonomous VTOL aircraft in Byron, California. You will own the development from design to test, ensuring compliance with aerospace standards.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience in a related field and a B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering. You will work on cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize logistics globally.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience as a professional mechanical engineer.
• Expertise in vehicle subsystem design.
• Proficiency in FEA analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight-critical mechanical systems.
• Conduct environmental analysis and testing for subsystems.
• Prepare and present at design reviews.

Skills

Designing and developing vehicle subsystems

Proficiency with SolidWorks and/or CATIA

Experience with FEA tools

Strong grasp of materials selection for aerospace applications

Experience with vibration, shock, thermal testing

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

M.S. preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

ANSYS

FEMAP

Job description

At Elroy Air, we build autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo aircraft systems to change the way the world moves goods. Transporting cargo by air is faster and more direct than by land or sea, but before recent technological and regulatory developments, it was prohibitively expensive. We’ve set out to expand middle-mile logistics possibilities across multiple sectors, with our sights on a $420Bn global total addressable market for cargo logistics across defense, commercial and rapid response.

The commercial express shipping industry needs faster, better solutions - and our armed forces are increasingly prioritizing new unmanned aerial cargo delivery systems.

These partners and customers are already responding enthusiastically to the system we’ve built. As we mature and deploy these systems, we are looking for people like you: motivated collaborators, excited by our mission and by the rare opportunity to improve how logistics works around the world. You will play an important role in establishing the Elroy Air Chaparral as the industry standard in this massive market.

We believe diverse perspectives at all levels of the organization are critical to innovation and employee development. This includes but is not limited to gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, age, ability, parenthood status, veteran status, educational background, citizenship status, or any combination of these characteristics.

As a Mechanical Engineer at Elroy Air, you will be responsible for owning the design, analysis, build, and test of the flight‑critical mechanical systems that bring our autonomous cargo UAV to life. You will work on a range of mechanical and structural systems, driving mechanical design and decision making that enables aircraft testing and flight.

What you’ll own:

• Designing and developing vehicle subsystems, including primary and secondary structures, flight control surfaces and actuation systems, landing gear, and thermal management systems from architecture definition through integration
• Apply first‑principles analysis, FEA, trade studies, and engineering best practices to ensure components and assemblies meet load, weight, and safety requirements for flight
• Define subsystem and component requirements compatible with safety, performance, and program objectives; manage functional and physical interfaces between subsystems and the vehicle
• Select materials appropriate for aerospace applications (aluminum alloys, titanium, composites) with consideration for weight, strength, fatigue, and manufacturability
• Apply DFM principles across fabrication methods including composites, sheet metal, machining, 3D printing, welding, and bonding to support efficient, producible designs
• Conduct environmental analysis and testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, and corrosion, and support design and build of test fixtures to verify subsystem performance and safety
• Select and manage suppliers and partners to ensure components are delivered within budget, schedule, and specification
• Prepare and present at gated design reviews to demonstrate design adequacy

Our ideal candidate:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline; M.S. preferred
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience as a professional mechanical engineer, directly related to vehicle subsystem design in the automotive, aeronautical, or space industries
• Proficiency with SolidWorks and/or CATIA, including PDM/PLM and data release processes
• Proficiency with MBD and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
• Experience with FEA tools (NASTRAN, ANSYS, FEMAP, or similar) for structural and thermal analysis
• Strong grasp of materials selection for aerospace applications: aluminum alloys, titanium, composites, and their relevant specifications and failure modes
• Experience with vibration, shock, thermal, and corrosion environmental testing and analysis
• Fluency in first‑principles, hand, and computer‑aided analysis to guide and substantiate mechanical designs
• Working knowledge of aerospace production processes and DFM trade‑offs across composites, sheet metal, machining, 3D printing, welding, and bonding

Bonus points for:

• Experience with lift+cruise, tiltrotor, or other eVTOL platforms
• Prior design, fabrication, test, and operation of airworthy primary/secondary structures, flight control surface and actuation systems, rotors and propellers, payload handling systems, landing gear, or thermal management systems
• Experience developing components for weight‑constrained applications
• Proficiency with FEMAP, NX Nastran, MATLAB, Mathcad, LabVIEW, and/or Python
• Working knowledge of FAA Part 21 type certification processes and Part 23/Part 27 airworthiness standards, including means and methods of compliance

What's in it for you:

• Competitive pay + generous equity package
• Comprehensive options for medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Company‑sponsored long and short term disability coverage
• Retirement planning: 401(k) with company contribution + Roth IRA
• 3 months of fully paid parental leave
• Highly flexible time off policy- that we actually want you to use!
• Employee Assistance Program with 24/7 support
• A kind, diverse, and highly skilled team
• Flexible work arrangements (we understand you have a personal life)

$120,000 - $222,000 a year

All employees will be screened through E‑Verify.