Senior Electrical Engineer

Pyka is looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer to join our experienced and enthusiastic team of engineers. In this role, you will be responsible for system level and component level design and testing across a wide range of subsystems.

Below is a list of current hardware projects that you will contribute to. Your roles and responsibilities will vary significantly from one week to the next.

• Dual-computer flight computer with multiply redundant power distribution system for actuators and avionics
• High power density motor controller (30kW ~ 100kW)
• BMS/Contact controller for redundant battery system
• Air data board
• Various PCBs to streamline testing of the above hardware

Candidates who thrive in fast-paced environments working with a small team will love this role.

About Pyka

Pyka’s goal is to provide society with a new form of fast, environmentally friendly, and accessible transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation.

To get there, we’re taking a different approach than most. We're applying our technologies to every industry where electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building useful, game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems. 

Today, we supply our aircraft to agricultural service providers and farmers as an autonomous tool that makes aerial crop protection safer, more targeted and less harmful to surrounding environments. Our vehicles are highly economical to operate and easy to deploy. What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one-step closer each day.

We design, develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density motors, motor controllers, batteries, and custom carbon-fiber composite airframes.

We foster a welcoming community within our company that promotes experimentation, asking questions, making simple solutions to complex problems, and expressing different views and opinions. We are a transparent company both internally and externally and do not believe in operating in “stealth mode.” Lastly, we don’t work 60 hour weeks, and don’t expect you to either. In this role you will have a great deal of responsibility, earn a competitive salary and benefits,  and contribute to the development of groundbreaking technology.

Responsibilities:

• Develop complex electrical subsystems involving FPGA, power, analog, and sensor integrations
  
  
• Complete the entire PCBA design cycle including architecture selection, component selection, schematic design, PCB layout, and working with manufacturers
  
  
• Test and validate subsystems to meet performance and reliability requirements
  
  
• Work with cross-functional teams (Mechanical Engineering, Software, and Flight Testing) on aircraft integration and system level testing
  
  
• Occasional travel (approximately one week every 1-2 months) to customer sites to support new aircraft deployments or EE subsystem debugging
  
  
• Write design and testing documents
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and testing microprocessor based circuitry and interfaces to various peripherals; experience with (low to medium speed) FPGA is a plus
  
  
• Experience designing power electronics systems such as DC-DC converters, BMSs, and motor controllers
  
  
• Experience designing safety critical systems, considering system redundancy as well as failure mode and effects analysis
  
  
• Familiarity with general schematic design and PCB layout tools such as Altium, OrCAD, Allegro, Eagle, KiCad, etc.
  
  
• Willingness to travel internationally for up to 20% of the time
  
  
• An inquisitive attitude with an ability to quickly and deftly research new topics and develop mastery of new subjects
  
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; the ideal candidate is not afraid to ask for clarification or give feedback
  
  

Company Perks

• $135,000–175,000 per year base salary + equity. Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Salary ranges are subject to change.
  
  
• Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance, FSA with employer matching, and 401(k)
  
  
• Paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave
  
  
• Free catered lunch and plenty of snacks
  
  

Export Control Requirements

This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls.  Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items. 

Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.

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We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.