Senior Mechanical Design Engineer [Propulsion]

Odys Aviation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Odys Aviation is seeking a senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Propulsion Team. You will design, analyze, and integrate mechanical and thermal systems that support high-power hybrid-electric propulsion, including motors, generators, inverters, turbines and their cooling systems.

You’ll collaborate with electrical, manufacturing, test, and flight teams, owning critical hardware from concept through build, test, and production, while mentoring engineers and helping set technical

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with high-speed rotating machinery and related challenges (vibration, critical speed, balancing).
• 5+ years of mechanical design experience for complex systems.
• Proven ownership of a critical assembly or subsystem from concept to production.
• 3D CAD proficiency and production-quality drawings with GD&T.
• Strong understanding of tolerance stack-ups and integration challenges.
• Experience with various manufacturing processes (machining, sheet metal, additive).
• Hands-on experience building, testing, and debugging hardware.
• Comfort working on electromechanical systems (motors, power electronics, cooling).
• Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and bias toward action.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and analysis of rotating machinery subsystems (turbines, motors, generators).
• Address vibration, dynamic balancing, and bearing/seal challenges.
• Resolve hardware issues from prototype through early production.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide technical direction for the propulsion team.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models and 2D drawings with GD&T.
• Conduct DFM/ DFA trade studies balancing weight, cost, and thermal performance.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams on manufacturability.
• Support prototype assembly, integration, and testing with root-cause analysis.
• Perform hand calculations, and use FEA/CFD to inform design decisions.
• Refine thermal management strategies (air/liquid cooling).
• Translate test data into design improvements and documentation.

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX CAD

GD&T

FEA

Teamcenter/PLM

Job description

About Odys

At Odys, we’re mobilizing power, with Hybrid Power Systems developed for aerospace and in-demand everywhere. It’s the kind of mission diversity that demands a fresh way of thinking.

We began with an early bet on hybrid, when the mobility industry was focused on batteries. We designed, tested, and validated our first 1 MW high-speed generator in 12 months. And then we pushed further, developing systems with greater power density in less time. Today, our Hybrid Power Systems offer outputs ranging from 20 kW to 4 MW, with applications in the air or on the ground.

One of those applications is Laila, an unmanned drone designed for critical logistics and defense missions. With its 100 kW-class onboard Hybrid Power System, Laila can support medical cold-chain transport or serve as an aerial platform for counter-UAS measures.

The market interest has been overwhelming: Over 30 inbound requests from leading US and global manufacturers, and 14+ DoD contracts.

Our team comes from deep tech and aerospace, with backgrounds spanning drone and aircraft development, high-volume production, and electrified mobility.

We operate with urgency and ownership at every level. We validated high-speed generator technology faster than our peers, not because we skipped steps, but because we've been doing this long enough to know which ones matter most.

Creating the future of power, in the air and on the ground, is a challenge we’ve been training our entire lives for. If that sounds like you, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

About The Role

Odys Aviation is seeking a senior level Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Propulsion Team. In this role, you will design, analyze, and integrate mechanical and thermal systems that support high-power hybrid-electric propulsion, including motors, generators, inverters, turbines and their supporting structures and cooling systems.

You’ll work closely with electrical, manufacturing, test, and flight teams. This is a hands‑on role with ownership of critical hardware, where you will play a key role as we mature our propulsion systems.

Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Odys, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.

What You’ll Do

1. Lead design and analysis of rotating machinery subsystems (turbines, motors, generators), addressing vibration, dynamic balancing, and bearing/seal challenges
2. Drive resolution of real hardware issues discovered during prototype and early production builds
3. Mentor and provide technical guidance to mid-level and junior engineers
4. Contribute to planning and technical strategy for the propulsion team, including design reviews and technical standards
5. Create and maintain 3D CAD models and 2D drawings, including GD&T and tolerance stackups
6. Perform DFM/DFA trade studies, balancing weight, cost, thermal performance, reliability, and manufacturability
7. Work with suppliers and internal teams to assess manufacturing feasibility, refine designs, and rapidly resolve build issues
8. Support hands‑on prototype assembly, integration, and test, including debugging and root cause analysis
9. Conduct engineering analysis using a mix of hand calculations and FEA to inform design decisions
10. Implement and refine thermal management strategies (air and/or liquid cooling, heat sinks, TIMs, enclosures, insulation)
11. Translate test data and build feedback into actionable design improvements
12. Document designs, analyses, and design changes clearly to support team alignment and future production

What We’re Looking For

1. B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
2. Experience with high speed rotating machinery and associated challenges (ex. vibration, critical speed, dynamic balancing, bearings/seals)
3. 5+ min years of experience in mechanical design of complex systems
4. Demonstrated experience owning and delivering on a critical assembly or subsystem with ownership from concept through build, test through production
5. Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX preferred) and creating production-quality drawings with GD&T
6. Strong understanding of tolerance stack-ups and real-world fit/integration challenges
7. Experience designing for a range of manufacturing processes (machining, sheet metal, additive, etc.)
8. Hands‑on experience building, testing, and troubleshooting hardware
9. Comfortable working on electromechanical systems (motors, power electronics, rotating machinery, batteries, cooling systems, etc.)
10. Demonstrated ability to debug issues, perform root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions
11. Experience working in fast-paced, iterative hardware development environments
12. Strong problem‑solving skills, attention to detail, and bias toward action
13. Clear communicator who collaborates effectively across multidisciplinary teams
14. Technical leadership experience (ex. leading design reviews, mentoring engineers, or setting technical standards for the team)

Nice to Have

1. Experience with propulsion systems or electromechanical systems
2. Background in thermal management of high-power systems (liquid cooling, forced air, heat exchangers)
3. Experience with rotor dynamics or vibration analysis tools (e.g., modal analysis, critical‑speed analysis)
4. Experience performing thermal and/or structural analysis (FEA, analytical modeling, or CFD)
5. Experience supporting prototype builds and early production environments
6. Familiarity with PLM systems (Teamcenter preferred)
7. Background in aerospace, automotive (EV/powertrain), robotics, or similar high-performance hardware industries