Associate Mechanical Design Engineer (Pelican)
About The Position
Pyka is seeking an Associate Mechanical Design Engineer to join their team. This role is designed for individuals bridging the gap between internship and autonomous engineering, offering ownership of specific mechanical components and subsystems on aircraft with mentorship from senior engineers. The Mechanical Engineering team collaborates closely with Manufacturing Engineers, Flight Test Engineers, and other Mechanical Engineers to design, test, and iterate on mechanical components and assemblies in a fast-paced environment. The role involves iterative design improvements for manufacturability, usability, and durability; supporting environmental and structural validation of aircraft parts; assisting in root-cause analysis of hardware bugs; and supporting the existing fleet while contributing to next-generation development.
Requirements
- Proficiency in any 3D CAD package (SolidWorks, NX, Inventor).
- Foundational understanding of hand calculations and basic FEA to validate design decisions (stress/strain, basic thermal, or fatigue).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a proactive collaborator who isn't afraid to ask questions or seek clarification.
- Excitement to be in a prototyping shop building and testing things with your hands.
Nice To Haves
- 1–2 years of experience in mechanical design (strong internship, co-op, or intensive university hands-on project team experience—like Formula SAE, DBF, or Rocketry—is highly valued).
- An inquisitive attitude with a strong desire to learn, research new topics, and rapidly iterate on designs.
- Exposure to or basic experience with designing and analyzing composite structures.
- Familiarity designing parts for common manufacturing processes (e.g., CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal, injection molding).
Responsibilities
- Act as the supporting or primary engineer for specific mechanical components, moving them from initial requirement definitions through prototyping, production, and field support.
- Collaborating closely with Senior Engineers on the conceptual design, prototyping, testing, and documentation of flight-critical mechanical parts and assemblies.
- Create and maintain 3D CAD models, detailed engineering drawings, and manufacturing documents with meticulous attention to detail.
- Work alongside manufacturing teams to build tools, jigs, and fixtures that facilitate the build of in-house parts and subsystems.
- Coordinate with external suppliers and fabricators to track parts, ensure quality, and manage timely delivery.
Benefits
- Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance
- FSA with employer matching
- 401(k)
- Paid holidays, generous PTO, and additional unpaid time off
- Voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
- Pre-tax commuter benefits
- Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
