Director of Hardware

Skyways designs, builds, and operates fully autonomous long-range cargo aircraft. We have been flying real missions with real customers since 2017.

Our V2 carries 30 lbs up to 500 miles and our V3 carries 100 lbs over 1,000 miles with 20+ hours of endurance. Both use a dual-hybrid design that takes off like a helicopter and cruises like a plane. We are currently flying on three continents, in controlled national airspace under FAA oversight, and in support of U.S. military operations.

Backed by Y Combinator and a $37M STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, we are moving from prototype to full-rate production with a path to Program of Record. Based in Austin, we are scaling fast and hiring people who want to build the world's largest fleet of autonomous logistics aircraft.

The Opportunity

As Director of Hardware, you will own aircraft hardware execution from early design through production, test, and fielded reliability. This is a hands on leadership role with direct accountability for the physical systems that make the aircraft fly.

You will work closely with flight, software, manufacturing, and supply chain to turn designs into operational aircraft and continuously improve them in the field.

What You'll Do:

• Own aircraft hardware execution across structures, avionics, power, and system integration.
• Lead and grow the hardware engineering team with a strong emphasis on quality, accountability, and velocity.
• Make and drive critical technical decisions through design reviews, trade studies, and system integration.
• Take hardware from prototype to production with a focus on manufacturability and reliability.
• Partner closely with manufacturing, supply chain, and flight test to close the loop between design, production, and operations.
• Establish hardware standards, documentation, and test practices that scale with the fleet.
• Support certification, compliance, and customer driven requirements as programs mature.

What You'll Bring:

• Proven experience shipping complex hardware systems into production.
• Experience leading hardware teams while staying close to design and integration work.
• Strong background in avionics, aircraft systems, or tightly integrated electromechanical platforms.
• Experience with UAVs, aircraft certification environments, or defense programs.
• A track record of building hardware that performs in real operational environments.
• Comfort operating in fast moving teams with real schedule, cost, and mission constraints.
• Willingness to be on the floor, at the flight line, and in the loop when things break.

Bonus Points:

• Experience scaling hardware from early production to higher volume.
• Startup experience building teams, processes, and systems from the ground up.

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.