Composite Technician

Pyka is looking for a seasoned Composite Technician to join our experienced and enthusiastic team of engineers. In this role, you will be responsible for all aspects of composite airplane manufacturing, from individual components to assembly, finishing, maintenance and repair. As one of our first composites technician hires, you will be a key contributor to the vehicle system -- an essential asset to our fast moving team. This is an active role requiring some lifting and occasional exposure to noise and VOCs. Some sanding of cured epoxy composites, application of ablative coatings, and solvent-based mold release agents is required. PPE is provided for these activities.

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

• Manufacture and assemble composite airplane structures

• Trim, drill, and finish composite components to drawing specifications 

• Promote a culture of excellence within the manufacturing team

• Meticulously maintain molds, tooling, fixturing and process improvements

• Monitor product quality during manufacturing and assembly

• Train junior technicians on Pyka manufacturing practices, basic shop skills, maintenance, and safety protocols

• Maintenance of composite tools - scissors, straight edges, delrin templates, Festool vacs

• Foster the principles of safety and cleanliness in the shop

• Organize tools and equipment

• Lead by example in keeping work stations clean and tidy 

  Preferred Qualifications

• Team leadership experience

• Strong mechanical skills and intuition

• Guru-like craftsmanship skills and experience with various types of hand tools and hand-held power tools (dremel, angle grinder, Festool vacs and accessories, drilling)

• Broad experience with composite materials and processes (wet-lay, prepreg, infusion)

• Able to assemble/disassemble precision fixtures/jigs to aid in bonding of airframe main structure

• Extreme attention to detail and continual pursuit of perfection

• Excellent listening and communication skills

• Strong team player, but comfortable with a lot of autonomy in the role

• Ability to work from either verbal or written instructions

• Inquisitive attitude with an ability to quickly and deftly research new topics and develop mastery of new subjects

Company Perks

• Competitive salary and equity

• Employer-sponsored health, dental and vision insurance, FSA with employer matching, and 401(k)

• Paid holidays and unlimited PTO

• 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.