Skyways · 3 months ago
Head of Mechanical Engineering (Aero)
Austin, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
8+ years expSkyways is a fast-growing startup focused on innovative air transportation solutions, including fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They are seeking a Head of Mechanical Engineering to lead the design and development of aircraft, mentor other engineers, and drive mechanical systems from concept to production.
AerospaceDrone ManagementDronesSoftwareTransportation
Responsibilities
Contribute to the design, analysis, and integration of aircraft structures, mechanisms, and composite systems
Lead projects through the full development cycle: CAD, FEA, prototyping, testing, and production
Balance performance, weight, cost, and manufacturability in every design decision
Mentor and support other engineers while staying hands-on with design, prototyping, and troubleshooting
Collaborate closely with aero, GNC, and manufacturing teammates to ensure designs perform in real-world flight
Build and test prototypes and see your work take flight!
Qualification
Required
8+ years of mechanical engineering experience (aerospace preferred)
Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
Experience leading projects and small teams
Strong CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and FEA (Ansys, Nastran) skills
Deep knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes, materials, and GD&T
Experience working with outside vendors and taking designs into production
Startup mindset: resourceful, resilient, able to take a project from vague requirements to a flying aircraft
Preferred
You are a maker and doer! Show us your projects!
Composite design and analysis experience
Hands-on shop skills (CNC, CAM, composites, 3D printing, etc)
Flight experience (aircraft or drones)
Company
Skyways
Skyways designs and manufactures long-range autonomous unmanned cargo aircraft systems for logistics and operational efficiency.
2-10 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Skyways has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
2023 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$58.12MKey Investors
Leonid Capital PartnersAFWERX
2025-06-26Debt Financing· $5M
2025-06-09Grant· $37M
2021-12-03Series A· $15M
Leadership Team
Charles Acknin
Co-Founder & CEO
Recent News
2025-10-17
2025-08-21
2025-06-28
Company data provided by crunchbase