Senior Mechanical Engineer

Description

Position Summary

Teal Drones, a wholly owned subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is looking to fill an immediate position for Senior Mechanical Engineer. Teal is focused on creating world class system solutions serving a broad range of applications for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Teal is working to deliver state-of-the-art, high quality, high performance robotic systems to address the growing applications in the drone industry.

The Senior Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the design, analysis, and development of complex mechanical systems from concept through production release. In this role, you will lead the detailed mechanical design of products and subsystems, perform advanced engineering analyses, and ensure designs meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to deliver robust, production-ready solutions.

This position requires strong hands-on design experience combined with deep analytical capability in structural FEA, vibration and modal analysis, and heat transfer, as well as practical expertise in injection-molded plastic design and production manufacturing processes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical design and detailed implementation of product subsystems from concept through sustaining

• Develop and maintain mechanical system architectures, layouts, and detailed component designs

• Perform advanced structural analysis (FEA) to validate strength, stiffness, fatigue, and durability requirements

• Conduct vibration and modal analysis to evaluate dynamic response, resonance, and environmental loading

• Perform thermal and heat transfer analysis to ensure safe and reliable operation under all operating conditions

• Translate high-level product requirements into clear, traceable mechanical requirements and design solutions

• Lead design trade studies to down-select materials, architectures, and manufacturing processes

• Design for injection molding, including part geometry, draft, gating considerations, tolerances, and material selection

• Apply DFM/DFA and DFT best practices to optimize cost, quality, and manufacturability

• Create and maintain accurate CAD models, drawings, and GD&T using SolidWorks or equivalent CAD tools

• Support prototype builds, testing, and design iteration based on verification and validation results

• Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers to review designs, tooling, and production readiness

• Support root-cause analysis and corrective actions for test, quality, or manufacturing issues

• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on best design and analysis practices

• Maintain mechanical documentation and bills of materials (BOMs) within the PLM system throughout the product lifecycle

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering.

• 10+ years’ experience in mechanical system and component design for complex products

• Demonstrated expertise in structural FEA, vibration analysis, and modal testing correlation

• Solid understanding of heat transfer and thermal management in electromechanical systems

• Proven experience designing injection-molded plastic components for high-volume production

• Experience with metals, plastics, fasteners, adhesives, and surface treatments

• Proficiency in SolidWorks, PDM, and PLM systems

• Experience working with test teams to correlate analysis results with physical testing

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams and influence technical decisions

• Strong documentation, communication, and technical leadership skills

• Proficient understanding of engineering principles, best practices, and design processes

• Experience supporting products through production ramp and sustaining engineering

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with supplier tooling reviews and injection mold qualification

• Previous experience with avionics or UAVs

• Experience with propulsion systems (propeller design and motor selection)

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to walk, stand, and navigate large indoor and outdoor facilities for extended periods of time.

• Ability to lift, carry, and move materials and equipment weighing up to 25 lbs on a regular basis.

• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required in designated areas or when performing specific tasks, in accordance with safety protocols and company policy.

• May be required to climb ladders, stoop, kneel, or crouch during inspections, maintenance walk-throughs, or emergency response situations.

• Regular exposure to facility operations including noise, dust, temperature fluctuations, and industrial equipment.

• Occasional off-hours or weekend work required for emergency facility responses or projects as needed

• Requires frequent use of a computer and other standard office equipment for documentation, communication, and coordination tasks.

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 (https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf) ensure eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work (https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf) rules.

Compensation: Salary plus generous annual equity package and potential bonuses.