Mechanical Engineer, Drone Systems

C

Calbuco Consulting

Mechanical Engineer, Drone Systems

Palo Alto, CA
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    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.