Pyka
About Pyka
Pyka’s goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation.
To get there, we’re taking a different approach than most. We're applying our technologies to every industry where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems.
We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon‑fiber composite airframes.
Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real‑world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry‑first regulatory approvals from the FAA. Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in their respective industries.
What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day.
Role Overview Pyka is looking for a highly skilled
Senior Mechanical Engineer
to join our cargo aircraft team. In this role, you will lead the mechanical design and integration of key aircraft components. Your work will span from detailed CAD design to structural analysis, prototyping, and testing — all while collaborating closely with cross‑functional engineering teams.
Responsibilities
Design mechanical components and assemblies with consideration for aircraft environments and performance
Perform basic structural and stress analysis (hand calculations and FEA) to validate designs
Apply GD&T and appropriate tolerancing to ensure manufacturability and proper assembly
Generate detailed 3D CAD models and engineering drawings (SolidWorks preferred)
Support structural integration of components into composite and metallic airframe structures
Design basic tooling and fixtures to support prototyping and testing
Lead hands‑on prototyping, assembly, and testing of mechanical systems
Collaborate with aeromechanical, propulsion, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust requirement definition and collaboration across systems
Contribute to design reviews and mentor junior engineers as needed
Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
5+ years of mechanical design experience, preferably in aerospace or high‑performance vehicle environments
Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks highly preferred), including modeling of complex assemblies
Solid understanding of structural design principles and material properties
Experience with basic stress analysis, both analytical (hand calcs) and FEA (e.g., SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS)
Practical knowledge of tolerancing, fits, and GD&T
Experience with component integration into airframes or structural assemblies
Comfortable with hands‑on prototyping, fabrication, and testing
Effective communicator and team collaborator with a proactive, problem‑solving mindset
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with composite materials and bonded structures
Familiarity with aviation industry standards and certification practices
Prior experience designing for lightweight, high‑strength applications
Experience designing tooling or fixtures for small‑scale production or testing environments
We understand that candidates bring different strengths and experiences, and you don’t need to meet every qualification to be considered. If this role excites you, we’d love to learn more about you. You may be a great fit even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with the list.
Company Perks
$135,000 - 160,000 per year base salary + equity. Compensation will vary depending on location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Salary ranges are subject to change.
Equity
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
Export Control Requirements This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls. Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items.
Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.
Recruiting Policy We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.
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To get there, we’re taking a different approach than most. We're applying our technologies to every industry where autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems.
We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon‑fiber composite airframes.
Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real‑world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry‑first regulatory approvals from the FAA. Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in their respective industries.
What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day.
Role Overview Pyka is looking for a highly skilled
Senior Mechanical Engineer
to join our cargo aircraft team. In this role, you will lead the mechanical design and integration of key aircraft components. Your work will span from detailed CAD design to structural analysis, prototyping, and testing — all while collaborating closely with cross‑functional engineering teams.
Responsibilities
Design mechanical components and assemblies with consideration for aircraft environments and performance
Perform basic structural and stress analysis (hand calculations and FEA) to validate designs
Apply GD&T and appropriate tolerancing to ensure manufacturability and proper assembly
Generate detailed 3D CAD models and engineering drawings (SolidWorks preferred)
Support structural integration of components into composite and metallic airframe structures
Design basic tooling and fixtures to support prototyping and testing
Lead hands‑on prototyping, assembly, and testing of mechanical systems
Collaborate with aeromechanical, propulsion, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust requirement definition and collaboration across systems
Contribute to design reviews and mentor junior engineers as needed
Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
5+ years of mechanical design experience, preferably in aerospace or high‑performance vehicle environments
Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks highly preferred), including modeling of complex assemblies
Solid understanding of structural design principles and material properties
Experience with basic stress analysis, both analytical (hand calcs) and FEA (e.g., SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS)
Practical knowledge of tolerancing, fits, and GD&T
Experience with component integration into airframes or structural assemblies
Comfortable with hands‑on prototyping, fabrication, and testing
Effective communicator and team collaborator with a proactive, problem‑solving mindset
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with composite materials and bonded structures
Familiarity with aviation industry standards and certification practices
Prior experience designing for lightweight, high‑strength applications
Experience designing tooling or fixtures for small‑scale production or testing environments
We understand that candidates bring different strengths and experiences, and you don’t need to meet every qualification to be considered. If this role excites you, we’d love to learn more about you. You may be a great fit even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with the list.
Company Perks
$135,000 - 160,000 per year base salary + equity. Compensation will vary depending on location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Salary ranges are subject to change.
Equity
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
Export Control Requirements This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls. Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items.
Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.
Recruiting Policy We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.
#J-18808-Ljbffr