Senior Manager, Hardware Design Engineering

Quick Facts

• Role: Mechanical/Aerospace engineering leadership for an autonomous drone vehicle platform (F10)
• Scope: Lead development from concept through mass production; manage mechanical team for winged vehicle and ground systems/dock

Description

Skydio’s mechanical systems enable reliable autonomous flight. You will lead teams to architect, develop, and refine structures, mechanisms, and solutions for the F10 winged platform, integrating compute, sensor, connectivity, and aerodynamics to enable longer missions and higher speeds, including RTOL (Robotic Takeoff and Landing).

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a vehicle platform from concept to production
• Manage the mechanical team tasked with bringing the F10 ecosystem to market, including the winged vehicle and the ground systems/dock
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (product, electrical engineering, flight core, software, quality and reliability engineering, program management, supply chain, manufacturing, testing, and operations)
• Identify and drive downselections on key architecture and technology decisions considering aero, weight, thermal, reliability
• Design mechanical parts and assemblies for aircraft, ground stations, and accessories from the ground up
• Collaborate with electrical engineers to integrate custom PCBAs, flex circuits, antennas, and cable harnesses
• Interface with and own technical activity at vendors with operations and supply chain teams
• Define and execute engineering tests and use analysis to evaluate trade-offs and prove designs
• Drive designs through prototyping to pre-production and into mass production
• Support internal manufacturing and factory teams with assembly processes and quality/inspection criteria
• Debug and investigate failures to reach the deepest causes

Requirements

• Experience managing mechanical and/or aerospace teams
• Proven track record of technical excellence, execution, delivery, and cooperation
• Strong system-level design skills and ability to map technical dependencies into execution
• Aerospace/aviation design experience with first-principles problem solving for mechanical, thermal, and systems-integration challenges
• Analytical problem-solving skills and engineering fundamentals for electromechanical systems
• Mastery of 3D CAD for complex assemblies; CATIA strongly preferred
• Experience with manufacturing processes: injection molding, metal casting, CNC machining, sheet metal forming, composites, foam
• Ability to prototype quickly and efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to produce thorough mechanical part and assembly drawings
• Strategic thinking across design, source, build, validate, and ship with considered decision-making
• Obtain FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days (strongly encouraged; required for certain positions)

Benefits

• Competitive base salary range: $230,000–$325,000 annually
• Equity in the form of stock options
• Comprehensive benefits including group health insurance plans
• Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay, and 401K savings plan
• Relocation assistance may be provided for eligible roles