Principal Mechanical Engineer

FlightWave Aerospace - A Red Cat Company; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 181,000 - 283,000; Full time

Job summary

RedCat Aerial, a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design, prototype, test, and integrate mechanical systems for flight hardware and ground-control systems in high-volume production. You will lead mechanical projects, apply SolidWorks CAD, and support DFMEA, NPI, and scalable manufacturing to ensure robust drone performance.

The role requires 10+ years in a design-focused engineering position, strong teamwork, and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of design-focused engineering experience.
• Demonstrated leadership of a team or project from cradle to grave.
• Strong teamwork and clear communication strategies.

Responsibilities

• Be the technical authority for mechanical and system-level changes.
• Lead mechanical heavy projects and advise on new ideas and products.
• Design electro-mechanical systems for UAS in SolidWorks with precision.
• Prototype, validate, and prepare designs for scalable manufacturing (DFMEA, NPI).
• Develop tools, fixtures, and automation jigs for manufacturing.
• Identify and qualify new vendors and manufacturing partners.
• Draft procedures, tests, and product requirements documents.
• Engage in the NPI process and build hardware systems.

Skills

Leadership

Systems engineering

Communication

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Creo

AutoCAD

Job description

RedCat Aerial, a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is looking to fill a Mechanical Engineer position. We are a dynamic and growing drone technology company focused on the manufacturing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS drones) for use in defense, public safety, and other government security organizations.

In this role, you will be responsible for designing, prototyping, fabricating, testing, and integrating a range of mechanical systems into flight hardware and ground control systems. The ideal candidate will have a background in mechanical design of drones and/or multi-axis camera gimbals in high volume production applications.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Essential functions of a job that are crucial to its purpose and must be performed regularly. They are the fundamental tasks that an employee must be able to carry out, with or without reasonable accommodation, and are central to defining the role's purpose.

• Be the technical authority for mechanical and system level changes.
• Lead mechanical heavy projects, and consult the business on new ideas and products to keep a competitive edge.
• Design electro-mechanical systems for UAS systems in SolidWorks with expert precision.
• Prototype, validate, and prepare designs for scalable manufacturing through DFMEA, NPI and Sustaining processes.
• Develop and build tools, fixtures, and automation jigs for manufacturing.
• Identify and qualify new vendors and manufacturing partners.
• Draft assembly procedures, inspection and test procedures, test reports, and product requirements documents.
• Get hands on with the NPI process, including building hardware systems yourself.
• Fly, design, and build incredible drones.

Required Qualifications

The following qualifications are required for any position:

Education

Minimum education (e.g., Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field).

Experience

Required years of relevant experience (e.g., 5+ yrs project management or sales).

Skills

Key skills for success: Proficiency with tools. Strong communication and teamwork.

Certifications

Any certifications needed or preferred (e.g., PMP, Lean Six Sigma).

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of industry experience in a design-focused engineering role.
• Demonstrate experience in leading a team or project from cradle to grave.
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration abilities with clear communication strategy.
• Demonstrated excellence in problem-solving, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience with SolidWorks or comparable CAD platforms (e.g., NX, Creo, AutoCAD).
• Proven ability to drive system-level architecture decisions and support full lifecycle product development through strong systems engineering principles.
• Proven ability to perform FEA analysis, including modal, thermal and aerodynamic analysis.
• Proven experience designing for high-rate production, including rapid prototyping and new product development.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Experience with BLDC motor system design and integration.
• Background in flexible PCB and cable routing design for high-reliability motion systems.
• Experience in robotics, UAVs/drones, or related industries.
• Familiarity with camera systems and other optical components.
• Experience supporting PCBA layout and production from a mechanical engineering perspective.
• Experience with microcontroller programming for test fixtures, production systems, or related hardware.
• Knowledge of structural composite design (e.g., fiberglass, carbon fiber) and composite mold design.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Be able to lift 15 lb
• Work on your feet for 5+ hours each day

Background Check

This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.

EEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization Disclosure

Red Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Successful candidates for positions subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

E-Verify

The company participates E-Verify ensure eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work rules.

Compensation: Salary Range $181,240 - $283,245 plus equity and potential bonuses