At Skyways, we are building a new form of air transportation—what some call the flying car. Backed by fresh funding and a major
STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, we’re uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of aviation innovation. Our fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent a breakthrough opportunity to move goods—and soon, people—in ways that are faster, safer, and more efficient than ever before. Unlike anyone else in the industry, our strategy blends rapid iteration with real-world deployment, and it’s already paying off.Skyways is a fast-growing startup based in Austin, TX, supported by top Silicon Valley investors including Y Combinator.
Though we’re early-stage, our vehicles are already in production and in the hands of paying commercial customers (see here and here). With robust financial backing and government partnerships accelerating our momentum, there’s never been a better time to join us and help build the future of transportation!
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Staff Manufacturing Engineer to take a leading role in scaling production of our autonomous aircraft. This is a high impact role. You will shape how we build vehicles at scale, create the processes and systems that make production predictable, and ensure that engineering and manufacturing are fully aligned as we move from prototype to commercial volume.
What You'll Do:
- Own development and optimization of manufacturing processes, tooling, jigs, and fixtures for efficient and scalable production.
- Provide design for manufacturing feedback that drives cost, reliability, and repeatability for high volume builds.
- Lead implementation of lean principles, automation, and continuous improvement across the production floor.
- Partner with engineering, supply chain, and quality to solve build issues quickly and permanently.
- Build clear documentation, perform root cause analysis, and select or specify production equipment.
- Support and guide contract manufacturers as we scale output and introduce new revisions.
- Help implement and shape our ERP and MRP workflows so aircraft builds, inventory, and quality are fully traceable.
What You'll Bring:
- 6 plus years experience taking hardware products from prototype to real production with increasing ownership.
- Strong knowledge of core manufacturing processes with deep experience in composites.
- Proficiency with CAD and an expert level understanding of DFM and DFA.
- Strong problem solving instincts and clear communication.
- Experience using ERP or MRP systems to run production in a structured and traceable way.
- Track record of thriving in environments where speed, ownership, and accountability matter.
Bonus Points If You Have:
- Direct experience scaling products within the demanding aerospace industry.
- Hands-on experience with automated manufacturing systems and robotics.
- Comprehensive knowledge of aerospace quality standards (e.g., AS9100) and certification processes.
- Startup experience where you had to build processes from scratch.
Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more!
Skyways is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses.
These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.Apply for this job
