# Senior Manager, Product Design Engineering

**Company:** [Skydio](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/skydio)
**Location:** San Mateo, CA, California
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $230k – $325k/yr
**Experience:** 8+ years
**Skills:** Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Integration, 3D Cad, CATIA, Injection Molding, Metal Casting, Cnc Machining, Sheet Metal Forming, Composites, Pcbas, Flex Circuits, Antennas, Cable Harnesses, Reliability Engineering
**Posted:** 2026-08-24

> Leads the mechanical engineering team developing Skydio’s F10 autonomous winged vehicle and ground systems from concept through mass production. The role requires deep mechanical or aerospace expertise, management experience, strong systems thinking, and mastery of complex assembly design and manufacturing processes.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Lead development of a vehicle platform from concept through production, integrating compute, sensors, connectivity, and aerodynamics.
- Manage the mechanical team delivering the winged vehicle and ground systems/dock.
- Partner with product, electrical engineering, flight core, software, quality, reliability, program management, supply chain, manufacturing, testing, and operations teams.
- Drive architecture and technology decisions, evaluating aerodynamic, weight, thermal, and reliability trade-offs.
- Design mechanical parts and assemblies for aircraft, ground stations, and accessories.
- Integrate custom PCBAs, flex circuits, antennas, and cable harnesses with electrical engineering.
- Own technical vendor activities in partnership with operations and supply chain.
- Define and execute engineering tests and use analysis to validate designs and system trade-offs.
- Drive designs from prototyping through pre-production and mass production.
- Support manufacturing and factory teams with assembly processes, quality requirements, and inspection criteria.
- Debug failures and identify root causes.

## Requirements
- Deep mechanical and/or aerospace engineering expertise with the ability to lead teams delivering technically challenging products.
- Management and product development experience with a record of technical excellence, execution, delivery, and collaboration.
- Strong system-level design skills and ability to translate complex requirements into execution.
- Aerospace or aviation design experience using first-principles approaches to mechanical, thermal, and systems-integration challenges.
- Analytical problem-solving skills and strong engineering fundamentals.
- Mastery of 3D CAD for complex assemblies; CATIA experience strongly preferred.
- Experience designing for injection molding, metal casting, CNC machining, sheet metal forming, composites, and foam.
- Ability to prototype quickly and efficiently.
- Ability to produce thorough mechanical part and assembly drawings.
- Strategic understanding of the full design, source, build, validate, and ship process.

## Compensation & Benefits
- Annual base salary: **$230,000–$325,000**.
- Equity in the form of stock options.
- Comprehensive health insurance plans.
- Paid vacation, sick leave, holiday pay, and 401(k) savings plan.
- Relocation assistance may be available for eligible roles.

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