Senior Reliability Engineer

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. Founded in 2017, the company has spent the last eight years developing and deploying autonomous logistics systems for real-world operations. Our V2 aircraft carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles, and V3 has a maximum range of well over 1,000 miles, a maximum useful load of 100 lbs, and a maximum endurance of nearly 20 hours. Both use a hybrid-electric architecture that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane, enabling long-range autonomous delivery without traditional runway infrastructure. Today, Skyways aircraft operate across three continents in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight and in support of U.S. military operations. We are transitioning from prototype development to full-rate production and scaling toward large autonomous cargo fleets. Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M AFWERX STRATFI award from the U.S. Air Force, Skyways is creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization from Austin, Texas. What You'll Do: • Lead the RCCA Lifecycle: Own the end-to-end investigation process for fleet reliability issues, from initial intake and root-cause analysis through to implementation, validation, and permanent closure. • Drive Data-Driven Insights: Analyze complex flight logs, telemetry, manufacturing, and maintenance data to identify systemic reliability trends and recurring failure modes. • Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner with Flight Test, Manufacturing, Software, and Engineering teams to reproduce anomalies, conduct hands-on investigations, and deploy corrective actions. • Communicate & Document Findings: Author technical reports and RCCA documentation suitable for engineering reviews, leadership, and regulatory needs, ensuring clear communication of engineering decisions. • Improve Fleet Health: Proactively contribute to reliability metrics, continuous improvement initiatives, and design feedback loops to ensure lessons learned improve future aircraft performance. What You'll Bring: • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline. • 7+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, robotics, aviation, automotive, or other safety-critical industries. • Strong troubleshooting and systems-level problem-solving skills across hardware, software, and operational environments. • Experience applying investigation methodologies such as 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, Fault Tree Analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), or similar approaches. • Strong technical writing and communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate findings to engineers, leadership, customers, and external stakeholders. • Comfortable working hands-on with aircraft hardware, instrumentation, test equipment, and troubleshooting activities. • Proficiency with Python, SQL, or similar tools for data analysis and trend identification. Bonus Points: • Experience supporting unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), autonomous vehicles, or aviation platforms. • Familiarity with ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, DroneCAN, or comparable flight-control ecosystems. • Experience investigating avionics, GPS, navigation, communications, propulsion, power-system, battery, or flight-control issues. • Experience with reliability engineering practices such as FRACAS, MTBF analysis, reliability growth tracking, and fleet health monitoring. In addition to base salary, offers include stock options, so you own part of what you build. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, paid holidays, a 401k, and life insurance. Relocation assistance is available for candidates moving to Austin. Want to join our mission? Apply to learn more! Due to U.S. government contract requirements, this role is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or candidates from specific countries authorized under applicable export control regulations. 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.