In PersonOnsite in Kirkland, WA; occasional travel for aircraft integration and flight test.
Mechanical EngineeringDesign Engineering
About the job
Requirements
A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field.
At least 3 months of hands-on engineering experience from internships, research labs, or student project teams.
Comfort with basic shop processes, including torque and measurement tools, manual machining, adhesives, surface cleaning, and finishing.
Authorization to work in the United States.
Ability to work full-time onsite in Kirkland, Washington, for at least 12 consecutive weeks beginning June–July 2027.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and work in lab and hangar environments.
Responsibilities
Assist with design and operational engineering for the M100 and subsequent products, improving performance, reliability, and cost across the product life cycle from concept through aircraft installation, flight testing, and fleet operation.
Help conceptualize and design next-generation Skyband products.
Help design new Skyband products for aviation position, navigation, and timing.
Build, test, and refine production M100 avionics assemblies.
Design and build test fixtures and automated test setups for development and production.
Support planning, execution, and data review for environmental and electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility qualification testing to DO-160.
Build and expand production equipment and tooling.
Support aircraft integration and flight testing, including installation and mounting, harnessing, instrumentation, and airframe modifications.
Desired Qualifications
Experience designing, building, and testing a project, such as through project teams, research, or personal projects.
Computer-aided design experience with SolidWorks, Fusion, or similar tools.
Computer-aided manufacturing experience with Mastercam, HSMWorks, Fusion CAM, or similar tools.
Python or similar scripting experience for automation and analysis.
Finite element analysis experience and understanding of its core principles.
Familiarity with structural and mechanical strength margins and mechanism designs.
Exposure to environmental, material, or destructive testing.
Interest in aviation, navigation, or global navigation satellite systems; a pilot's license or flight test experience is a plus.
Clear written communication and discipline in documenting work and findings.
GPS jamming and spoofing affect thousands of flights every day (GPSThreatMap.com). Skyband Systems has built the M100, a certified avionics system to overcome this threat to safety and operational reliability. The M100 fuses satellite signals from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with inertial sensing to give pilots a trusted position source that doesn't depend on GPS.
We're a VC-backed, fast-paced team based in Kirkland, WA, made up of engineers who built and scaled Starlink Aviation at SpaceX. We design, build, test, and fly our own hardware in our own aircraft. Everyone on the team has significant ownership over product areas or problem spaces.
The Role
You'll join our mechanical team and assist in design and operational engineering scope for the M100 and subsequent products. You will work to improve M100 performance, reliability, and cost throughout its life cycle - from concept to physical aircraft installation, flight test, and fleet operation.
You will also help conceptualize and design the next generation of Skyband products. Your products will integrate into a wide variety of airframes, enabling wireless connections to satellites, data bus connections to aircraft, and IP networking to store and analyze data. You will design the future of pilot-focused navigation equipment, and stand up the production line to build it.
What You'll Do
Help design the future of aviation PNT with new Skyband products
Build, test, and refine production M100 avionics assemblies
Design and build test fixtures and automated test setups for development and production
Support environmental and EMI/EMC qualification testing to DO-160: planning, execution, and data review
Build and expand production equipment and tooling
Support aircraft integration and flight test, including installation and mounting, harnessing, instrumentation, and airframe modifications
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field
3+ months of hands-on engineering experience from internships, research labs, or student project teams
Comfortable with basic shop processes: torque and measurement tools, manual machining, adhesives, surface cleaning and finishing
Authorized to work in the United States
Preferred Skills and Experience
You've designed, built, and tested something yourself (such as project teams, research, or personal projects)
CAD experience (Solidworks, Fusion, or similar)
CAM experience is a plus (MasterCAM, HSMWorks, Fusion CAM, etc)
Python or similar scripting experience for automation and analysis
Finite Element Analysis experience and understanding of core principles
Familiarity with structural and mechanical strength margins, mechanism designs
Exposure to environmental, material, or destructive testing
Interest in aviation, navigation, or GNSS; a pilot's license or flight test experience is a plus
Clear written communication and the discipline to document what you did and what you found
Additional Requirements
Full-time, onsite in Kirkland, WA for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks beginning June-July 2027
Able to lift up to 25 lbs. and work in lab and hangar environments
Occasional travel for aircraft integration and flight test will be required
Compensation and Benefits
$50.00/hour
$2500 relocation bonus
Paid holidays based on company holiday schedule
Direct mentorship from engineers who have shipped flight hardware at scale
EEO Statement
Skyband Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer employment with Skyband is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.