Principal Mechanical Engineer

Posted 5 Hours Ago
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90503, Torrance, CA, USA
In-Office
181K-283K Annually
Expert/Leader
Aerospace • Information Technology • Robotics • Defense
The Role
Leads mechanical engineering for UAS and drone systems, including electro-mechanical design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, integration, system architecture, and high-rate manufacturing preparation. Designs in CAD, performs FEA, develops tooling and fixtures, supports NPI and sustaining processes, qualifies vendors, authors technical documentation, and provides technical leadership across product lifecycles. The role also involves hands-on hardware development and drone flight testing.
Summary Generated by Built In
RedCat Aerial, a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is looking to fill a Mechanical Engineer position. We are a dynamic and growing drone technology company focused on the manufacturing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS drones) for use in defense, public safety, and other government security organizations.In this role, you will be responsible for designing, prototyping, fabricating, testing, and integrating a range of mechanical systems into flight hardware and ground control systems. The ideal candidate will have a background in mechanical design of drones and/or multi-axis camera gimbals in high volume production applications.  Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions of a job that are crucial to its purpose and must be performed regularly. They are the fundamental tasks that an employee must be able to carry out, with or without reasonable accommodation, and are central to defining the role's purpose.

  • Be the technical authority for mechanical and system level changes.
  • Lead mechanical heavy projects, and consult the business on new ideas and products to keep a competitive edge.
  • Design electro-mechanical systems for UAS systems in SolidWorks with expert precision.
  • Prototype, validate, and prepare designs for scalable manufacturing through DFMEA, NPI and Sustaining processes.
  • Develop and build tools, fixtures, and automation jigs for manufacturing.
  • Identify and qualify new vendors and manufacturing partners.
  • Draft assembly procedures, inspection and test procedures, test reports, and product requirements documents.
  • Get hands on with the NPI process, including building hardware systems yourself.
  • Fly, design, and build incredible drones.
 Required Qualifications - The following qualifications are required for any position:

  Education: Minimum education (e.g., Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field).

  Experience:  Required years of relevant experience (e.g., 5+ yrs project management or sales).

  Skills: Key skills for success: Proficiency with tools. Strong communication and teamwork.

  Certifications: Any certifications needed or preferred (e.g., PMP, Lean Six Sigma).

  • Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
  • 10+ years of industry experience in a design-focused engineering role.
  • Demonstrate experience in leading a team or project from cradle to grave.
  • Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration abilities with clear communication strategy.
  • Demonstrated excellence in problem-solving, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • 10+ years of hands-on experience with SolidWorks or comparable CAD platforms (e.g., NX, Creo, AutoCAD).
  • Proven ability to drive system-level architecture decisions and support full lifecycle product development through strong systems engineering principles.
  • Proven ability to perform FEA analysis, including modal, thermal and aerodynamic analysis.
  • Proven experience designing for high-rate production, including rapid prototyping and new product development.
 Additional Desired Qualifications - The requirements below are desired knowledge, skills and/or abilities we desire but not required.
  • Experience with BLDC motor system design and integration.
  • Background in flexible PCB and cable routing design for high-reliability motion systems.
  • Experience in robotics, UAVs/drones, or related industries.
  • Familiarity with camera systems and other optical components.
  • Experience supporting PCBA layout and production from a mechanical engineering perspective.
  • Experience with microcontroller programming for test fixtures, production systems, or related hardware.
  • Knowledge of structural composite design (e.g., fiberglass, carbon fiber) and composite mold design.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

  • Be able to lift 15 lb
  • Work on your feet for 5+ hours each day

 

Background Check

This position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.

EEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization Disclosure

Red Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Successful candidates for positions subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

E-Verify

The company participates E-Verify ensure eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work rules.

Compensation: Salary Range $181,240 - $283,245 plus equity and potential bonuses

Skills Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field
  • 10+ years of industry experience in a design-focused engineering role
  • Experience leading a team or project from cradle to grave
  • Strong teamwork, collaboration, written communication, and verbal communication skills
  • 10+ years of hands-on experience with SolidWorks or comparable CAD platforms such as NX, Creo, or AutoCAD
  • Ability to drive system-level architecture decisions and support full-lifecycle product development using systems engineering principles
  • Experience performing FEA, including modal, thermal, and aerodynamic analysis
  • Experience designing for high-rate production, rapid prototyping, and new product development
  • Experience with BLDC motor system design and integration
  • Experience designing flexible PCBs and cable routing for high-reliability motion systems
  • Experience in robotics, UAVs, drones, or related industries
  • Familiarity with camera systems and optical components
  • Experience supporting PCBA layout and production from a mechanical engineering perspective
  • Experience with microcontroller programming for test fixtures or production systems
  • Knowledge of structural composite and composite mold design, including fiberglass or carbon fiber
  • Ability to lift 15 pounds and work on feet for more than five hours daily
  • U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and no need for sponsorship for ITAR/EAR-restricted work authorization
  • Successful completion of a post-offer background check
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The Company
HQ: San Juan, PR
244 Employees
Year Founded: 1984

What We Do

Red Cat Holdings, Inc. provides advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense, national security, and commercial applications.

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