What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mechanical Engineer position at Vertex Autonomy Corp?
Job description:
As a Drone Prototyping Engineer at Vertex, you will be the bridge between digital design and physical reality. You will be responsible for the rapid design, fabrication, and iteration of our sUAS platforms. Your work will enable us to test new concepts in hours and days, not weeks and months. You will be a critical, hands-on member of the engineering team, working directly with autonomy and electrical engineers to build and fly the next generation of intelligent, autonomous aircraft.
- Design and model drone airframes, sensor mounts, and electro-mechanical components using CAD software.
- Operate, maintain, and optimize our in-house 3D printers and additive manufacturing equipment.
- Assemble and integrate all components—including motors, flight controllers, sensors, and payloads—into functional drone prototypes.
- Lead the rapid iteration cycle: flight test, identify points of failure or areas for improvement, and implement design changes for the next build.
- Collaborate with the broader engineering team to ensure mechanical designs meet the requirements of our autonomy and mission systems.
- Manage material inventory for prototyping and contribute to the selection of new manufacturing technologies.
You Should Have the Following
- U.S. Citizenship
- FAA Part 107 Pilot License
- 3 years of experience in mechanical design, robotics, or a related field with a portfolio of hands-on projects.
- Expertise in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or similar).
- Deep, hands-on experience with various 3D printing technologies (FDM, SLA, etc.), including slicer software, printer operation, and maintenance.
- Strong understanding of additive manufacturing materials and their properties (e.g., PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon, Carbon Fiber composites).
- Proven experience assembling and troubleshooting complex electro-mechanical systems.
- Proficiency in soldering, wiring, and basic electronics integration.
- A fundamental understanding of drone components (flight controllers, ESCs, motors, communication links) and basic aerodynamic principles.
Nice to Have
- A passion for the drone hobby, including experience building and flying FPV drones.
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with other fabrication methods like CNC machining or carbon fiber molding.
- Familiarity with flight controller firmware (e.g., Betaflight, ArduPilot, PX4).
- Experience using FEA or CFD simulation tools to analyze and validate designs.
Salary : $65,000 - $85,000