UAS Mechanic

Socket.dev; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Skyways seeks a results-driven technician to build, integrate, and maintain autonomous cargo aircraft. You’ll work on airframes, mechanical systems, wiring, and avionics, bridging manufacturing, flight, and field operations.

The role involves on-site work in Austin, travel to test sites, and customer sites to keep aircraft flying in demanding environments. You'll troubleshoot complex issues, read wiring diagrams, and own problems from discovery to resolution.

Qualifications

• 4+ years turning wrenches on real systems (aircraft, UAVs, vehicles, robotics).
• Strong mechanical foundation, not just composites.
• Experience across full systems, not just one area.
• Electrical experience: harnesses, connectors, testing, basic diagnostics.
• Able to read drawings, wiring diagrams, and use them.

Responsibilities

• Build and assemble aircraft structures and systems from the ground up.
• Install and integrate mechanical, electrical, and avionics systems.
• Build and route wiring harnesses, perform testing and validation.
• Fabricate and work with composite parts; not the whole job.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues during build, integration, and maintenance.
• Support ground and flight test prep, including preflight and postflight checks.
• Travel to customer sites to maintain, repair, and support aircraft in the field.
• Work across subsystems and understand interactions; not just your piece.
• Improve build processes, tooling, and repeatability over time.

Skills

4+ years wrenching

Strong mechanical foundation

Experience across full systems

Electrical experience

Read drawings & wiring diagrams

Troubleshooting without playbook

Willingness to travel

High ownership

Tools

AP license

Job description

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations.

Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, while our next-generation V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000+ miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a hybrid-electric architecture that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane, enabling long-range autonomous delivery without traditional runway infrastructure.

Today, Skyways aircraft operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. We are transitioning from prototype development to full-rate production and scaling toward large autonomous cargo fleets.

Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force, Skyways is creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization from Austin, Texas.

The Opportunity

This role sits between manufacturing, flight, and the field. You'll build, integrate, and maintain the aircraft themselves: airframe, mechanical systems, wiring, avionics. It all connects, and when something doesn't work, you're the one figuring out why.

Some days you're on the shop floor in Austin. Some days you're at our flight test site. Some days you're traveling to customer sites, keeping aircraft flying where they actually operate. If you want a job where every day looks the same, this isn't it.

Some days are clean builds. Some days are troubleshooting something that should work but doesn't. If you've only worked from perfect instructions, this will feel uncomfortable. If you've actually had to figure things out, you'll do well here.

What You'll Do:

• Build and assemble aircraft structures and systems from the ground up
• Install and integrate mechanical, electrical, and avionics systems
• Build and route wiring harnesses, perform testing and validation
• Fabricate and work with composite parts (one part of the job, not the whole job)
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues during build, integration, and maintenance
• Support ground and flight test prep, including preflight and postflight checks
• Travel to customer sites to maintain, repair, and support aircraft in the field
• Work across subsystems and understand how they interact, not just your piece
• Improve build processes, tooling, and repeatability over time

What You'll Bring:

• 4+ years turning wrenches on real systems (aircraft, UAVs, vehicles, robotics)
• Strong mechanical foundation first, not just composites
• Experience working across full systems, not just one area
• Electrical experience: harnesses, connectors, testing, basic diagnostics
• Ability to read drawings, wiring diagrams, and actually use them
• Comfortable troubleshooting without a step-by-step playbook
• Willingness to travel to customer and flight test sites
• High ownership. If something is off, you don't walk past it

Bonus Points:

• A&P license
• UAS or military aircraft maintenance background
• Flight line or flight test support experience
• Experience working under FAA or similar standards
• Experience in low-rate production or scaling builds

Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations.

Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.