Mechanical Engineering Director

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the design, development, and production of mechanical systems across our entire drone product line. This position will oversee a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians responsible for airframe design, structural integrity, thermal management, actuator integration, and manufacturing readiness. The ideal candidate combines deep mechanical engineering expertise with strong leadership and a track record of delivering innovative, reliable hardware in fast-paced environments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Team Management
  • Lead and grow a high-performing mechanical engineering team responsible for UAV platforms, payload enclosures, and supporting ground systems.
  • Set technical direction, resource allocation, and engineering priorities aligned with company goals and product roadmaps.
  • Mentor engineers and technical staff through design reviews, professional development, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Product Design & Development
  • Oversee the design of airframes, structural components, propulsion mounting systems, cooling strategies, and mechanisms.
  • Ensure lightweight, manufacturable, and field-repairable designs for fixed-wing, multirotor, or hybrid drone platforms.
  • Drive early prototyping, iterative testing, and design validation processes using tools like FEA, CFD, and tolerance stack analysis.
• Cross-Functional Integration
  • Collaborate closely with electrical, firmware, and flight software teams to ensure seamless integration of mechanical and electronic subsystems.
  • Work with industrial design and product teams to balance form, function, and performance across drone variants.
  • Support integration of payloads, cameras, antennas, batteries, and landing gear with optimized mechanical architecture.
• Manufacturing & Operations Support
  • Interface with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure DFM/A standards, BOM readiness, and smooth production transitions.
  • Resolve mechanical design issues during prototype builds and production runs through root cause analysis and rapid iteration.
  • Oversee vendor selection, design-for-tooling, and lifecycle support for custom parts and assemblies.
• Process & Quality Assurance
  • Maintain rigorous documentation, part databases, and revision control systems (CAD vaults, PLM tools).
  • Implement and enforce best practices for mechanical design validation, configuration control, and continuous improvement.
  • Support compliance with aerospace, military, or commercial standards (AS9100, MIL-STD, FAA Part 107 integration, etc. as applicable).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including 5+ years in team leadership or engineering management.
• Proven experience in mechanical design for UAVs, aerospace, robotics, or other embedded electromechanical systems.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, or similar) and FEA/thermal analysis tools (ANSYS, SimScale, etc.).
• Strong understanding of materials (carbon fiber, aluminum, polymers), manufacturing methods (CNC, injection molding, 3D printing), and rapid prototyping.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Experience in drone design, airframe dynamics, or rotorcraft structural analysis.
• Familiarity with IP-rated enclosures, ruggedized systems, and thermal management for outdoor/field equipment.
• Knowledge of MIL-STD testing, vibration/shock specs, or aviation-related mechanical certification.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and overseas suppliers.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Office, lab, and prototyping shop setting with occasional field testing and flight trials.
• Fast-paced startup or growth-stage environment requiring flexibility and cross-discipline communication.

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 plus generous annual equity package and potential bonuses.