Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical Systems

Mechanical EngineerAt 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 integrationApply first-principles analysis, FEA, trade studies, and engineering best practices to ensure components and assemblies meet load, weight, and safety requirements for flightDefine subsystem and component requirements compatible with safety, performance, and program objectives; manage functional and physical interfaces between subsystems and the vehicleSelect materials appropriate for aerospace applications (aluminum alloys, titanium, composites) with consideration for weight, strength, fatigue, and manufacturabilityApply DFM principles across fabrication methods including composites, sheet metal, machining, 3D printing, welding, and bonding to support efficient, producible designsConduct environmental analysis and testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, and corrosion, and support design and build of test fixtures to verify subsystem performance and safetySelect and manage suppliers and partners to ensure components are delivered within budget, schedule, and specificationPrepare and present at gated design reviews to demonstrate design adequacyOur ideal candidate:B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline; M.S. preferred5+ years of hands-on experience as a professional mechanical engineer, directly related to vehicle subsystem design in the automotive, aeronautical, or space industriesProficiency with SolidWorks and/or CATIA, including PDM/PLM and data release processesProficiency with MBD and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)Experience with FEA tools (NASTRAN, ANSYS, FEMAP, or similar) for structural and thermal analysisStrong grasp of materials selection for aerospace applications: aluminum alloys, titanium, composites, and their relevant specifications and failure modesExperience with vibration, shock, thermal, and corrosion environmental testing and analysisFluency in first-principles, hand, and computer-aided analysis to guide and substantiate mechanical designsWorking knowledge of aerospace production processes and DFM trade-offs across composites, sheet metal, machining, 3D printing, welding, and bondingBonus points for:Experience with lift+cruise, tiltrotor, or other eVTOL platformsPrior design, fabrication, test, and operation of airworthy primary/secondary structures, flight control surface and actuation systems, rotors and propellers, payload handling systems, landing gear, or thermal management systemsExperience developing components for weight-constrained applicationsProficiency with FEMAP, NX Nastran, MATLAB, Mathcad, LabVIEW, and/or PythonWorking knowledge of FAA Part 21 type certification processes and Part 23/Part 27 airworthiness standards, including means and methods of complianceWhat we offer:Competitive salaryEquity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced aerospace companyComprehensive medical benefits401(k) with company contribution + Roth IRAFree daily lunch provided onsiteFlexible time-off policy3 months of paid parental leaveEmployee assistance program with 24/7 supportHigh-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomyOpportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancementYou'll work with a motivated, kind, and highly skilled teamYou'll help shape and define our company culture and valuesYou'll help build and scale a new category of aerospace / logistics technology$120,000 - $222,000 a yearElroy Air is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. We are committed to an inclusive, harassment-free workplace and we gladly provide reasonable accommodations to support our team.Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder). All employees will be screened through E-Verify.