# Staff Mechanical Engineer
**Company:** [Skyways](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/skyways)
**Location:** Austin, TX
**Skills:** CAD, Solidworks, Ansys, Composite Structures, Aircraft Structures, Mechanical Design, FEA, Prototyping, Manufacturing Processes, Lightweight Materials
**Posted:** 2026-03-17
> Leads architecture, design, integration, and validation of critical aircraft structures and hardware from concept through flight testing. Requires deep mechanical engineering expertise, system-level thinking, and hands-on prototype build experience.
## Job Description
## What You'll Do

- Lead the architecture, design, integration, and validation of critical aircraft structures
- Own complex aircraft hardware from early concept through detailed design, prototype build, ground test, flight test, and iteration
- Drive system level integration across structures, avionics, propulsion, and payload systems, to resolve interface, packaging, and performance tradeoffs
- Partner closely with manufacturing to ensure designs are buildable, testable, and capable of scaling from prototype to repeatable production
- Participate in aircraft builds, integration efforts, and flight test campaigns
- Mentor engineers and help define engineering standards and best practices
- Help identify and resolve system level design challenges across the aircraft

## What You'll Bring

- **Bachelor’s or Master’s degree** in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- Deep experience with mechanical design, structures, and subsystem integration
- Experience taking hardware from concept through build, testing, and deployment
- Strong system level thinking and ability to resolve complex integration challenges
- Strong track record of working directly with prototype builds, hardware integration, and test campaigns, not just analysis or documentation
- Ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations teams

## Bonus Points

- Experience designing aircraft structures or flight hardware
- Experience with composite structures or lightweight aerospace systems
- Experience leading hardware development in robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems
- Experience working in startup or rapid hardware development environment
**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/staff-mechanical-engineer-at-skyways-40f5ec50-31b2-44c0-86b1-ef079daf1b16
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/staff-mechanical-engineer-at-skyways-40f5ec50-31b2-44c0-86b1-ef079daf1b16