Job Title: Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

The Mechanical Engineer will be responsible for designing and developing various drones for the utility industry. This role involves working on both maintenance and upgrades of the current fleet, as well as contributing to new builds. The engineer will focus on creating state-of-the-art, eco-conscious unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the transmission industry in collaboration with utilities and contractors.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and systems for autonomous aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms, ensuring functionality and manufacturability.
• Conduct analysis and simulations to validate designs, including stress, thermal, and fluid dynamics analysis.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers, software engineers, and product managers to integrate mechanical systems with other subsystems.
• Create and maintain detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and documentation for manufacturing and assembly.
• Participate in prototyping, testing, and validation of mechanical designs, making iterative improvements based on test results.
• Resolve design issues through root cause analysis and corrective action.
• Stay current with industry trends, materials, and technologies to drive innovation in mechanical design.
• Work with engineering, manufacturing, sales/marketing, and quality assurance teams to coordinate pilot production of new products.
• Resolve mechanical design issues with fabrication vendors and internal stakeholders, and contribute to the development of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) guidelines.
• Provide engineering support to factory and customer support teams.
• Coordinate engineering support for prototype builds and lab testing.
• Write test plans and procedures for manufacturing and testing.
• Maintain currency on all relevant safety and compliance standards and educate the team when changes occur.
• Provide detailed project estimates for time and cost.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in mechanical design using SolidWorks and Inventor.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• At least 5 years of experience in designing small electronics or mechanical systems.
• Experience with carbon fiber, plastic molding, and CNC shop milling.
• Knowledge in robotics and mechanical design within the UAV industry.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in sizing propellers and motors (training available on the job).
• Background in hardware design is advantageous.

Work Environment

The role offers a shop space and R&D environment, typically operating from 9-5 or 8-4. You will be part of a dynamic start-up atmosphere, providing the opportunity to design an aircraft from start to finish.