Mechanical Systems Engineer - Hybrid - VTOL

Confidential Search - Mechanical Engineer, Mechanical Systems

Location: Bay Area, California
Employment Type: Full-time
Working Model: Hybrid - approximately 1 day per week onsite

The Opportunity

Our client is an advanced aerospace company developing autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo drones for next-generation logistics applications.

The organization is expanding its engineering team as it progresses the design, test, and deployment of a new class of autonomous cargo aircraft. It is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical Systems to take ownership of flight-critical mechanical and structural systems from early architecture and analysis through detailed design, integration, testing, and flight readiness.

This is a highly hands-on engineering role suited to someone who enjoys solving multidisciplinary aircraft design problems and working closely with structures, systems, manufacturing, test, and flight operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

The Mechanical Engineer will be responsible for the design, analysis, development, integration, and verification of key aircraft mechanical systems.

Responsibilities will include:

• Design and develop aircraft subsystems including primary and secondary structures, flight-control surfaces, actuation systems, landing gear, thermal-management systems, and related mechanical assemblies.
• Own subsystem development from architecture definition and requirements through detailed design, integration, build, test, and flight support.
• Apply first-principles engineering analysis, finite-element analysis, trade studies, and sound engineering judgement to ensure designs meet structural, weight, performance, and safety requirements.
• Define component and subsystem requirements consistent with aircraft-level performance, safety, and program objectives.
• Manage functional, mechanical, and physical interfaces between subsystems and the broader aircraft.
• Select materials appropriate for aerospace applications, including aluminum alloys, titanium, and composite materials, with consideration for strength, weight, fatigue, durability, corrosion, cost, and manufacturability.
• Develop and support environmental and qualification testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, and corrosion testing.
• Design or support the design of test fixtures and equipment used to verify subsystem performance and structural integrity.
• Investigate test results, failures, and design issues and drive corrective actions through analysis and redesign.
• Select and manage suppliers and external technical partners to ensure components are delivered to specification, cost, and schedule.
• Prepare technical documentation and present designs at formal gated design reviews.
• Support aircraft build, integration, ground testing, and flight-test activities as required.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a practical, technically strong mechanical engineer with significant experience developing complex vehicle or aerospace systems.

Required Experience

Candidates should have:

• A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional mechanical engineering experience, ideally involving vehicle, aircraft, spacecraft, or other safety-critical systems.
• Demonstrated experience taking mechanical subsystems from concept through design, analysis, fabrication, integration, and test.
• Strong CAD capability using SolidWorks, CATIA, or comparable tools.

• Strong knowledge of model-based definition and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, including ASME Y14.5.
• Experience using structural or thermal FEA tools such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, FEMAP, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of relevant material specifications, structural behaviour, fatigue considerations, and common failure modes.

• Working knowledge of aerospace or high-performance manufacturing processes and their associated design-for-manufacture trade-offs.

Preferred Experience

• Additional experience that would be particularly valuable includes:
• A master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience developing mechanical systems for VTOL, eVTOL, rotorcraft, unmanned aircraft, autonomous aircraft, or advanced air mobility platforms.
• Previous responsibility for designing, fabricating, testing, or operating airworthy:
• Thermal-management systems
• Familiarity with certification means and methods of compliance.

The successful candidate will:

• Deliver lightweight, structurally sound, manufacturable designs that meet program requirements.
• Identify technical risks early and resolve them through analysis, testing, and sound engineering judgement.
• Build confidence in subsystem performance through disciplined verification and validation.
• Improve the quality and maturity of mechanical-system design practices.
• Work effectively across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, integration, test, and flight operations.
• Make pragmatic technical decisions in a fast-moving aircraft-development environment.
• Contribute directly to successful ground and flight-test campaigns for an autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft.

Working Environment

This is a hybrid position based in the Bay Area, California, with an expectation of approximately one day per week onsite.

Additional onsite presence may occasionally be required to support major aircraft integration, test, design-review, or flight-test activities.

The position offers substantial technical ownership and the opportunity to work directly on a next-generation autonomous VTOL cargo drone from concept through flight.

Compensation & Benefits

Final compensation will depend on experience, technical depth, and level of responsibility.

The broader compensation package is expected to include:

• Competitive base compensation
• Equity participation
• Comprehensive health benefits
• Retirement benefits with employer contribution
• Flexible paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Employee support programs
• Significant technical ownership and autonomy
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement

Additional details regarding benefits will be provided during the interview process.

Confidentiality

This search is being conducted on a confidential basis. Further information regarding the company, VTOL cargo aircraft platform, technology, program status, and organizational structure will be shared with qualified candidates at the appropriate stage of the process.