Senior Mechanical Engineer at Pyka

Alameda, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Aerospace, AviationIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
5+ years of mechanical design experience, preferably in aerospace or high-performance vehicle environments
Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks highly preferred), including modeling of complex assemblies
Solid understanding of structural design principles and material properties
Experience with basic stress analysis, both analytical (hand calcs) and FEA (e.g., SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS)
Practical knowledge of tolerancing, fits, and GD&T
Experience with component integration into airframes or structural assemblies
Comfortable with hands-on prototyping, fabrication, and testing
Effective communicator and team collaborator with a proactive, problem-solving mindset
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with composite materials and bonded structures
Familiarity with aviation industry standards and certification practices
Prior experience designing for lightweight, high-strength applications
Experience designing tooling or fixtures for small-scale production or testing environments

Responsibilities

Design mechanical components and assemblies with consideration for aircraft environments and performance
Perform basic structural and stress analysis (hand calculations and FEA) to validate designs
Apply GD&T and appropriate tolerancing to ensure manufacturability and proper assembly
Generate detailed 3D CAD models and engineering drawings (SolidWorks preferred)
Support structural integration of components into composite and metallic airframe structures
Design basic tooling and fixtures to support prototyping and testing
Lead hands-on prototyping, assembly, and testing of mechanical systems
Collaborate with aeromechanical, propulsion, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust requirement definition and collaboration across systems
Contribute to design reviews and mentor junior engineers as needed

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

CADStructural AnalysisPrototypingTestingMechanical DesignAircraft Integration

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What qualifications are required for the Senior Mechanical Engineer role?

A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering and 5+ years of mechanical design experience, preferably in aerospace, are required.

What key skills will I use in this position?

The role requires skills in CAD design (SolidWorks preferred), structural and stress analysis (hand calculations and FEA), GD&T and tolerancing, prototyping, assembly, testing, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

What is the compensation for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Is this a remote position or does it require on-site work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What does Pyka's company culture or work environment look like?

Pyka focuses on collaborative cross-functional engineering teams, hands-on prototyping and testing, and contributing to innovative autonomous electric aviation that improves lives and reduces emissions.

Pyka

Develops autonomous electric airplanes for agriculture

About Pyka

Pyka develops autonomous electric airplanes that can perform all flight operations without human intervention, including taxiing, takeoff, flight, and landing. These aircraft are particularly efficient, using less power than electric cars and featuring minimal moving parts, making them cost-effective for agricultural applications like crop spraying. Equipped with advanced sensors and software, Pyka's airplanes ensure precise flying close to the ground, reducing waste and increasing efficiency for large-scale farmers. The company's goal is to transform the agricultural aviation industry by providing safe, efficient, and affordable aerial solutions.

Alameda, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2017Year Founded

$92.7MTotal Funding

SERIES_BCompany Stage

Food & Agriculture, AerospaceIndustries

51-200Employees

Benefits

Competitive salary & equity

Medical, dental, & vision insurance

FSA with employer matching

401k

Paid holidays

Unlimited PTO

Free catered lunch & snacks

Risks

Increased competition from companies like Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems.

Regulatory challenges in defense applications may require stricter compliance.

Dependence on large clients like Heinen Brothers poses revenue risks.

Differentiation

Pyka develops fully autonomous electric aircraft for agriculture and cargo transport.

Their aircraft use less power than electric cars, enhancing cost-effectiveness.

Pyka's Pelican Spray is the largest FAA-authorized UAS for commercial crop spraying.

Upsides

Pyka secured $40M to accelerate aircraft development and commercialization.

Partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation expands Pyka's defense market reach.

Entry into Brazil with SLC Agrícola showcases global demand for Pyka's technology.

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