Senior Systems Engineer

The role

This senior engineer will own systems workstreams on autonomous long range cargo aircraft. The work covers requirements, trade studies, integration, and verification, and includes mentoring other engineers.

What you will do

• Define scope, requirements, interfaces, acceptance criteria, dependencies, and verification plans for assigned workstreams
• Carry assigned work through integration and closure, with evidence of delivered outcomes
• Lead analysis of architecture and interface choices, including performance, safety, reliability, and integration
• Set the test approach, readiness criteria, and configuration baseline; coordinate bench, simulation, ground, and flight verification
• Resolve discrepancies and demonstrate that requirements are met
• Set priorities within team direction and lead investigation of complex system anomalies
• Work with Reliability Engineering and subsystem owners to verify corrective actions
• Improve documentation, design and test reviews, and working standards
• Mentor less-experienced engineers where present
• Share reusable methods that help peers make sound technical decisions

Required qualifications

• Engineering education or equivalent practical experience relevant to aircraft systems, robotics, or complex hardware and software products
• Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of engineering workstreams that measurably improved product performance, integration quality, test completion, or team delivery
• Deep expertise in systems engineering or an aircraft subsystem
• Strong experience with requirements traceability, interface control, engineering trade studies, configuration changes, and verification and validation
• Ability to explain technical decisions, evidence, uncertainty, and risks clearly to engineers, project owners, and stakeholders
• Proven ability to set priorities, resolve ambiguous problems, coordinate dependencies, and close technical gaps without detailed task assignments
• Evidence of improving others' work through mentorship, documentation, technical review, or practical standards
• Proficiency with engineering analysis tools

Nice to have

• Experience taking autonomous aircraft or complex electromechanical systems through integration and operational evaluation
• Familiarity with ArduPilot, MAVLink, DroneCAN, or comparable flight-control and communications tools
• Experience with aircraft safety analysis, failure-mode analysis, or cross-subsystem root-cause investigations
• Experience developing reusable simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, test automation, or requirements and verification practices

Benefits

• Stock options
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• 401k
• Life insurance
• Relocation assistance for candidates moving to Austin

Before you apply

• Limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations, due to U.S. government contract requirements

About the company

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long range cargo aircraft, founded in 2017 and based in Austin, Texas. The company flies revenue missions for commercial customers across three continents and is backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force.