--- title: 'Sr. Mechanical Engineer at Reliable Robotics Corporation' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-mechanical-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-hn9sar8kksxq' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-06' --- # Sr. Mechanical Engineer at Reliable Robotics Corporation - **Company:** [Reliable Robotics Corporation](https://feeny.ai/companies/reliable-robotics-corporation) - **Location:** Mountain View, CA - **Compensation:** $180k–$260k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-19 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/reliable-robotics/cca3fbd9-6f6d-4d06-89d7-6da31608be7c/application **Skills:** Mechanical systems design, Mechanical analysis, Manufacturing, Testing, Certification, Project ownership, Structural analysis, Failure mode analysis, Aircraft safety-critical systems, CAD systems, Configuration management, PLM, ERP, MRP, Design for manufacturability > Design, analyze, build, test, and fly actuators and structural modifications for remote piloted aircraft. This role involves cradle-to-grave hardware ownership, leading cross-functional trades, and driving performance decisions for safety-critical mechanical systems. ## Job description We're building safety-enhancing technology for aviation that will save lives. Automated aviation systems will enable a future where air transportation is safer, more convenient and fundamentally transformative to the way goods — and eventually people — move around the planet. We are a team of mission-driven engineers with experience across aerospace, robotics and self-driving cars working to make this future a reality. The mechanical team is a small group of highly motivated people designing, testing, and flying advanced mechanical systems. We enjoy cradle-to-grave hardware ownership and hands-on build, test, and integration of our designs. As a Sr. Mechanical Engineer at Reliable Robotics, you will be an influential part of the Mechanical Engineering team helping to drive engineering methods and product quality. The hardware focus is on high reliability safety critical mechanisms and structures, with significant cross-functional development with the Systems, Avionics, GNC, Software, Manufacturing, and Flight Test teams. The position will be located at our facility in Mountain View, California, or our Seattle location reporting to the Mechanical Engineering Manager. ## Responsibilities You will design, analyze, build, test, and fly a system of actuators, mechanisms, and structural modifications to enable remote piloted aircraft. Own your hardware from initial conception through flight test and certification...this is cradle-to-grave engineering with hands-on build, test, and integration. Lead cross-functional trades and drive performance and design decisions to closure. You will bring a sense of humility, and be ready to both learn and teach. ## Basic Success Criteria - BS in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or equivalent experience - 5+ years professional experience developing mechanical systems - Mastery of at least one of the following areas: Design, Analysis, Manufacturing, Test, or Certification - Demonstrated successful project ownership ## Preferred Criteria - Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of mechanical systems - Ability to assess and prioritize mechanical architectures for safety and reliability - Previous experience with aircraft or other safety-critical mechanical systems - Experience developing engineering infrastructure such as CAD systems, configuration management, PLM, ERP, and MRP systems - Design for manufacturability and volume production - Eagerness and ability to mentor junior engineers - Proactive problem solver - Excellent written and verbal communication skills Must be willing to travel up to 25 % of the time. The estimated salary range for this position is $180,000 to $260,000/annual salary + cash and stock option awards + benefits. At Reliable Robotics, we strive to provide competitive and rewarding compensation based on experience and expertise, as well as market conditions, location, and pay equity. In addition to base compensation, Reliable Robotics offers stock options, employee medical, 401k contribution, great co-workers and a casual work environment. This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. An offer of employment will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to perform in compliance with U.S. export control laws. All applicants are asked to provide documentation that legally establishes status as a U.S. person or non-U.S. person (and nationalities in the case of a non-U.S. person). Where the applicant is not a U.S. person, meaning not a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident, (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or not otherwise permitted to access the export-controlled technology without U.S. government authorization, the Company reserves the right not to apply for an export license for such applicants whose access to export-controlled technology or software source code requires authorization and may decline to proceed with the application process and any offer of employment on that basis. At Reliable Robotics, our goal is to be a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, ancestry, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical conditions, national origin, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment and promotion is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to work@reliable.co ## About Reliable Robotics Corporation ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Reliable Robotics is building a certifiable autonomous flight system to make air transportation safer, more available, and more affordable for cargo and passenger aircraft. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series D) - **Headquarters**: Mountain View, California, United States - **Founded**: 2017 - **Founders**: Robert Rose (CEO) and Juerg Frefel (CTO) ## Core Business - **Primary Industry**: Airlines and Aviation / Autonomous Flight Systems - **Target Customers**: Cargo operators (Part 23), passenger airlines (Part 25), and government/military logistics providers (B2B, Enterprise) - **Mission / Purpose**: “Advanced automation will make aircraft safer, more available, more affordable and fundamentally transformative to the way goods and people move around the planet.” ## Products & Services - **Reliable Autonomy System**: A fully integrated, FAA‑certifiable system that enables gate‑to‑gate autonomous operation – including auto‑taxi, auto‑takeoff, en‑route flight, auto‑landing, and detect‑and‑avoid. Designed initially for Part 23 cargo aircraft and expanding to Part 25 passenger jets. (Type: Hardware + Software + Service) ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric**: Total funding — $330.6 M (8 rounds, per LinkedIn/Craft) or $303.1 M (per CBInsights); conflicting reports. Last round: Series D (led by Nimble Partners, with participation from Coatue, Lightspeed, UP Partners, and others). - **Notable Investors / Partners**: Coatue, Lightspeed Venture Partners, UP Partners, Pathbreaker Ventures, Presidio Ventures, Nimble Partners. FAA (testing partner). - **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 154 (up ~55% YoY), 65 active job postings (+44% YoY), FAA‑contracted flight testing of its detect‑and‑avoid system, and announced completion of the first FAA‑certifiable system for fully automated operation. ## Competitive Advantages - **Certification‑forward approach**: First system to achieve FAA certifiability for fully automated aircraft operation, a critical regulatory moat. - **End‑to‑end capability**: Covers all phases of flight (taxi, takeoff, route, landing, detect‑and‑avoid), reducing integration risk for operators. - **Top‑tier engineering talent**: Heavily recruits from SpaceX, NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Virgin Orbit, indicating deep aerospace expertise. ## Strategic Focus - **Commercialization for Part 23 cargo**: Near‑term priority to bring the system to market for cargo operators, leveraging existing FAA testing. - **Expansion to Part 25 passenger aircraft**: Long‑term roadmap to serve the passenger airline market. - **Scaling the engineering team**: Growing headcount rapidly (54.7% YoY) to accelerate certification and deployment. ## Why Work Here - **Hybrid workspace**: Employees work a combination of remote and on‑site at the Mountain View headquarters; some roles are in‑office or flexible. - **Engineering‑centric culture**: 48% of employees are in technical roles; strong talent pipeline from SpaceX, NASA, and top aerospace firms. - **Employee rating**: 4.2/5 on Built In (based on 19 reviews), with top marks for Work‑Life (4.2) and Culture (4.1). - **Growth opportunity**: 65 open positions across flight software, mechanical engineering, systems integration, and more – rapid hiring indicates upward mobility. - **Mission‑driven work**: Direct impact on making aviation safer and more accessible through autonomous technology. ## Sources 1. [reliable.co](https://reliable.co/) 2. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/reliablerobotics) 3. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/reliable-robotics) 4. [craft.co](https://craft.co/reliable-robotics) 5. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/reliable-robotics-corporation) 6. [jobs.ashbyhq.com](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/reliable-robotics) (Careers page) ## Other roles at Reliable Robotics Corporation - [Sr. RF Test Engineer, Radar](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-rf-test-engineer-radar-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-4fz2frhrqt9h) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. FPGA Design Engineer, Radar](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-fpga-design-engineer-radar-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-2bjdwcymvw46) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. FPGA Verification Engineer, Radar](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-fpga-verification-engineer-radar-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-azzwdfj0hbvc) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. Embedded Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-embedded-software-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-1ha2x66xzagj) — Mountain View, CA - [Avionics Hardware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/avionics-hardware-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-kv0gkt925e14) — Mountain View, CA - [Simulation and Test Systems Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/simulation-and-test-systems-manager-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-vrk72nj1wvh5) — Mountain View, CA - [Sr. Electrical New Product Introduction (NPI) Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-electrical-new-product-introduction-npi-engineer-reliable-robotics-s8g5r34dajar) — Mountain View, CA - [Sr. Electrical Engineer, RF](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-electrical-engineer-rf-reliable-robotics-corporation-seattle-fe9a3j83pd6b) — Seattle, WA - [Sr. FPGA Verification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-fpga-verification-engineer-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-view-9hmrt1g2zcsf) — Mountain View, CA - [Sr. Harness Manufacturing Engineer (EWIS)](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-harness-manufacturing-engineer-ewis-reliable-robotics-corporation-mountain-tmrbqnea9bz5) — Mountain View, CA