Product Design Engineer

Skydio, Inc.; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health insurance

Paid vacation time

401(k) plan

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Skydio, Inc. in San Mateo, California, is seeking a mechanical design engineer to architect and refine structures for autonomous flight.

You will design mechanical parts and assemblies for aircraft and accessories, collaborate with electrical engineers, and drive designs from prototyping to mass production while supporting manufacturing teams. The ideal candidate has 3–8 years of product development, a B.S.

Qualifications

• 3–8 years of product development experience with a proven track record.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent.
• Strong analytical problem solving and engineering fundamentals.
• Mastery of 3D CAD with CATIA strongly preferred.
• Experience with manufacturing processes (injection molding, metal casting, CNC machining).
• Ability to prototype quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to produce well-constructed mechanical drawings.
• FAA Part 107 certification within 60 days is encouraged for all Skydio employees.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical parts and assemblies for aircraft, ground stations, and accessories.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers to integrate PCBAs, flex circuits, antennas, and cable harnesses.
• Interface with vendors in partnership with operations and supply chain teams.
• Define and execute engineering tests and analyze trade-offs to prove designs.
• Drive designs from prototyping to pre-production and mass production; support manufacturing teams.

Skills

3D CAD

CATIA

Mechanical design

Prototyping

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

PCBAs & flex circuits

Cabling & harness design

Job description

San Mateo, California, United States- Full-time

About the role:

Skydio’s mechanical systems are the backbone of reliable autonomous flight. An intelligent flying machine depends on world-class engineering and an eye for detail while optimizing for simplicity; you will help architect, develop, and refine the structures, mechanisms and solutions that bring autonomous flight to a broad audience in a highly collaborative environment.

How you'll make an impact:

Design mechanical parts and assemblies for our aircraft, ground stations, and other key accessories from the ground-up as part of new architectures.

Collaborate closely with electrical engineers to shape and integrate custom PCBAs, flex circuits, antennas, and cable harnesses.

Interface with and own technical activity at vendors in partnership with operations and supply chain teams.

Define and execute engineering tests and utilize analysis to evaluate system trade-offs and prove your design.

Drive designs throughout the development cycle from prototyping to pre-production and into mass production. Support our internal manufacturing and factory teams with assembly processes, quality and inspection criteria, etc.

Debug and investigate failures with an eye for the smallest details and a commitment to reach the deepest causes.

What makes you a good fit:

3-8 years of prior experience of product development with a proven track record of execution, enthusiasm, and cooperation. This role could be a senior-level depending on experience.

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent with demonstrated academic excellence.

Ability to apply analytical problem solving skills and engineering fundamentals to create high-quality designs for a sophisticated electromechanical system.

Mastery of 3D CAD, specifically as used in developing complex assemblies along with an acute sense of when to hack and when to build elegant parametrics. Experience with CATIA strongly preferred.

Ability to design for a broad array of manufacturing processes (injection molding, metal casting, and CNC machining required, sheet metal forming and composites desired).

Excellent sense of how best to prototype quickly and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

Ability to produce well-constructed, thorough mechanical part and assembly drawings.

Passion for elegant mechanical design at the highest and lowest levels of detail.

A strategic mind across the full design, source, build, validate, and ship process. Proven ability to make considered decisions at various stages.

Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.

Compensation: At Skydio, our compensation packages for regular, full-time employees include competitive base salaries, equity in the form of stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages. Compensation will vary based on factors, including skill level, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and experience. Relocation assistance may also be provided for eligible roles. The annual base salary range for this position is $175,000 - $205,000*. Fundamentally, we believe that equity is the key to long-term financial growth, and we ensure all regular, full-time employees have the opportunity to significantly benefit from the company's success. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the Company’s group health insurance plans. Regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan. This position and all associated benefits are subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the Company’s policies and eligibility criteria.

*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on the position’s location.

#LI-JC2

At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.

For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

Skydio provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Skydio is a federal contractor or subcontractor subject to certain governmental recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the administration of civil rights laws and regulations. Employment decisions are made on the basis of job-related criteria without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

We invite all applicants to voluntarily self-identify their race, ethnicity, and gender. Submission of the information on this form is strictly voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment. Information obtained will be retained in a confidential file and separate from personnel records. This information may only be used in accordance with the provision of applicable federal laws, executive orders, and regulations. If you want more information about any of the sections, please check with a company representative.

SELF-IDENTIFICATION OF VETERAN STATUS (Completion is voluntary and will not subject you to adverse treatment)

Skydio is a Government contractor subject to Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended by the Jobs for Veterans Act of 2002, which requires Government contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment protected veterans. If you believe that you belong to any of the following categories of protected veterans, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.