Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical Systems

Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical SystemsByron, CAEngineering /Full-time /Hybridapply for this jobAt Elroy Air, we build autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo drones to change the way the world moves goods. Transporting cargo by air is faster and more direct than by land or sea, but it has been prohibitively expensive for medium-size loads. We've set out to expand middle-mile logistics possibilities across multiple sectors, with our sights on a $420Bn global total addressable market for cargo logistics across defense, commercial and rapid response. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe that the defense, commercial, and rapid response communities need faster, better logistics solutions. We are seeing increasing demand as customers and prospects respond enthusiastically to the systems we’ve built. As we mature and deploy our offerings, we are looking for people like you: motivated collaborators, enthusiastic about our mission and ready to roll up their sleeves and make a big impact to improve how logistics works around the world. You will play an important role in establishing the Elroy Air Chaparral as the industry standard in this massive market. We believe diverse perspectives at all levels of the organization are critical to innovation and employee development. This includes but is not limited to gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, age, ability, parenthood status, veteran status, educational background, citizenship status, or any combination of these characteristics.As a Mechanical Engineer at Elroy Air, you will be responsible for owning the design, analysis, build, and test of the flight-critical mechanical systems that bring our autonomous cargo UAV to life. You will work on a range of mechanical and structural systems, driving mechanical design and decision making that enables aircraft testing and flight.What you’ll own: Designing and developing vehicle subsystems, including primary and secondary structures, flight control surfaces and actuation systems, landing gear, and thermal management systems from architecture definition through integration Apply first-principles analysis, FEA, trade studies, and engineering best practices to ensure components and assemblies meet load, weight, and safety requirements for flight Define subsystem and component requirements compatible with safety, performance, and program objectives; manage functional and physical interfaces between subsystems and the vehicle Select materials appropriate for aerospace applications (aluminum alloys, titanium, composites) with consideration for weight, strength, fatigue, and manufacturability Apply DFM principles across fabrication methods including composites, sheet metal, machining, 3D printing, welding, and bonding to support efficient, producible designs Conduct environmental analysis and testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, and corrosion, and support design and build of test fixtures to verify subsystem performance and safety Select and manage suppliers and partners to ensure components are delivered within budget, schedule, and specification Prepare and present at gated design reviews to demonstrate design adequacy Our ideal candidate: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline; M.S. preferred 5+ years of hands-on experience as a professional mechanical engineer, directly related to vehicle subsystem design in the automotive, aeronautical, or space industries Proficiency with SolidWorks and/or CATIA, including PDM/PLM and data release processes Proficiency with MBD and GD&T (ASME Y14.5) Experience with FEA tools (NASTRAN, ANSYS, FEMAP, or similar) for structural and thermal analysis Strong grasp of materials selection for aerospace applications: aluminum alloys, titanium, composites, and their relevant specifications and failure modes Experience with vibration, shock, thermal, and corrosion...