3D Printing, Acceptance Testing, Aerospace and Defense, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) Systems, Debugging Skills, Electricity, Field Trials, Hardware-Software Integration, Injection Molding, Manufacturing/Industrial Processes, Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering, Prototyping, Robotics, System Integration (SI), Systems Engineering, Systems Maintenance, Testing, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Wheel/Front-End Loader
LOCATION
Palo Alto, CA
POSTED
30+ days ago
Our partner is building a next-generation drone platform from the ground up and is looking for a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to help design, build, and iterate on real-world systems.
This isn't a “design in CAD and hand it off” role, you'll be involved across the full lifecycle: concept prototype testing deployment. You'll work closely with the electrical, software, and autonomy teams to bring a tightly integrated system to the real world.
If you've worked on drones, robotics, aerospace, or other hardware-heavy systems and like building things that actually get used in the field, this will feel familiar.
What you'll do
Design and develop mechanical systems for drone platforms (airframe, enclosures, mounting, payload integration)
Own the full prototyping cycle, from early concepts to field-ready hardware
Work closely with electrical and software teams to ensure tight system integration
Build, test, and iterate quickly, balancing performance, weight, durability, and manufacturability
Support flight testing and debug real-world issues as they come up
Drive design decisions around materials, thermal considerations, and structural integrity
Help establish early hardware processes as the team scales
What we're looking for
3–8+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, ideally in drones, robotics, aerospace, or similar systems
Strong CAD experience
Experience building and iterating on physical prototypes (not just designing)
Familiarity with manufacturing processes (CNC, injection molding, 3D printing, etc.)
Understanding of structural, thermal, and vibration considerations in real-world systems
Comfortable working in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
Nice to have
Experience with UAV/drone systems
Background in mechatronics or tightly integrated hardware/software systems
Experience with lightweight structures or high-performance materials
Exposure to field testing or deployment environments
Why this role
Early team, real ownership, and impact
Build from 0 1, not maintain legacy systems
Work on real-world systems, not just simulations
Tight, highly technical team focused on execution
Job Title and Compensation
The compensation range for this position is between $150,000 and $240,000, based on full-time employment.
Actual salaries are based on several factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, certifications, and work location.
Open positions are based on job competencies that are specific to each role. If you are offered a position, the job title may be different from what is advertised to align with the role's competencies and your specific background, experience, and interview results.