Job Description:
About PykaPyka’s goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective 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 autonomous electric aircraft can be useful, starting with the highest value and most dangerous jobs. In doing so, we're building game-changing products manufactured at scale, while perfecting the safety, reliability, and capabilities of our autonomy engine and electric propulsion systems. 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. Today, we supply autonomous electric aircraft for cargo transport and crop protection to real-world customers across four separate continents and have secured industry-first regulatory approvals from the FAA. Our cargo aircraft enables remote connectivity, enhances express delivery networks, and ensures fast and reliable shipping of critical supplies to areas in need. Our crop protection aircraft offers agricultural services providers and farmers an autonomous tool to make aerial application safer, more precise, and less harmful to surrounding environments. Both vehicles are highly economical to operate, easy to deploy, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in their respective industries. What you work on at Pyka makes people’s lives better now and brings the future of electric aviation one step closer each day.
Role Overview:
Pyka is looking for an Assembly & Prototyping Technician to join our team in Alameda. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role supporting the build, integration, testing, and continued development of our autonomous electric aircraft. You’ll work closely with engineers and other technicians to turn designs into real hardware—assembling mechanical and electrical systems, building and modifying prototype components, troubleshooting issues, and helping improve how our aircraft are built. Depending on the project, you may move between prototype fabrication, precision mechanical assembly, aircraft systems integration, testing, maintenance, and repair. We’re looking for someone who enjoys building things, solving practical problems, learning new skills, and working collaboratively to turn designs into reliable hardware. There isn’t one “right” background for this role—we care about hands-on ability, attention to detail, curiosity, and how you approach problems. Experience can come from aviation, automotive, motorsports, marine, industrial manufacturing, composites, or another hands-on technical environment.
Responsibilities:
Build & Assemble: Assemble mechanical components, structures, and aircraft systems using hand, power, pneumatic, and precision tools.
Prototype & Fabricate: Work alongside engineers to build, modify, fit, and iterate on prototype parts and assemblies. Depending on experience and project needs, this may include composite layup, bonding, trimming, drilling, grinding, and finishing.
System Integration: Install and test mechanical and electrical subsystems, including actuators, sensors, wiring, connectors, and other aircraft hardware.
Troubleshoot & Repair: Diagnose mechanical and basic electrical issues, support aircraft maintenance, and perform repairs or modifications on prototype and test aircraft.
Collaborate with Engineering: Provide hands-on feedback to engineers on fit, assembly, manufacturability, serviceability, and opportunities to improve designs and build processes.
Documentation & Process Improvement: Follow and help improve work instructions, assembly guides, test procedures, and maintenance documentation. Document build steps and identify opportunities to make future builds safer, faster, and more repeatable.
Shop & Material Support: Maintain tools, equipment, supplies, and consumables, and collaborate with Inventory to ensure required parts and materials are available.
Safety & Quality: Maintain a clean, organized, and safe workspace while following applicable safety procedures and maintaining a high standard of workmanship.
Required Qualifications:- Hands-on experience in a technical build, assembly, fabrication, maintenance, or repair environment such as aviation, automotive, motorsports, marine, industrial manufacturing, HVAC, or similar.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and an interest in building, understanding, and troubleshooting physical systems.
- Proficiency with hand and power tools and the ability to perform precise assembly work safely.
- Ability to follow technical instructions, drawings, work instructions, and established processes while maintaining strong attention to detail.
- Comfortable working closely with engineers and technicians to troubleshoot problems and develop practical solutions.
- Strong communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented approach.
- Ability to stay organized and adapt as priorities and designs evolve in a collaborative prototyping environment
- Comfortable working in an active shop environment, including using PPE, handling materials and equipment, and performing work requiring manual dexterity.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with aircraft assembly, maintenance, integration, or other safety-critical mechanical systems.
Experience with composite fabrication techniques such as wet layup, vacuum bagging, mold preparation, bonding, trimming, or resin systems.
Ability to read and interpret 2D technical drawings and/or work with 3D CAD models.
Basic electrical troubleshooting experience, including using a multimeter and working with wiring, connectors, sensors, or electrical assemblies.
Experience using precision tools such as torque wrenches, calipers, micrometers, and multimeters.
Experience working directly with engineering teams on prototypes, design iterations, or design-for-manufacturability improvements.
Familiarity with high-voltage safety.
FAA A&P certification, progress toward certification, or specialized composite/fabrication training is a plus, but not required.
We understand that candidates bring different strengths and experiences, and you don’t need to meet every qualification to be considered. If this role excites you, we’d love to learn more about you. You may be a great fit even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with the list.
Compensation and Benefits:- Technician Level 2: $35–$39/hour + equity
- Senior Technician: $39–$45/hour + equity
- Compensation will vary depending on location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly wage ranges are subject to change.
- Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insuranceFSA with employer matching 401(k)
- Paid holidays, generous PTO, and additional unpaid time off
- Voluntary short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
- Pre-tax commuter benefits
- 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.--We do not work with external recruiters; if you are an external recruiter, please do not reach out.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.
