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Elroy Air demonstrates autonomous cargo-handling capabilities of Chaparral aircraft at Travis Air Force Base

Elroy Air, the company leading the race to develop a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial logistics system for middle-mile commercial shipping, humanitarian aid and military resupply, demonstrated the autonomous ground navigation and cargo-handling systems of its Chaparral aircraft for the United States Air Force senior and executive officers as part of the Golden Phoenix Technology Demonstration Event.

*Karl Purdy, Director of Federal Programs at Elroy Air narrates the demonstration of the Chaparral ground system at Travis Air Force Base.*

During the live demonstration, a developmental prototype of the Chaparral aircraft’s ground systems performed a series of autonomous manoeuvres without the use of GPS, which can be unreliable or jammed in contested environments. Without intervention from operators, the vehicle located and navigated autonomously to a cargo pod inside a hangar from a distance of 20 meters, then used its robotic grasping mechanism to pick the pod up and secure it to the underside of the vehicle. The system then navigated out of the hangar to the takeoff zone.

*A developmental prototype of the Chaparral aircraft’s ground systems performed a series of autonomous manoeuvres without the use of GPS.*

Without intervention from operators, the Elroy Air vehicle located and navigated autonomously to a cargo pod inside a hangar from a distance of 20 meters, then used its robotic grasping mechanism to pick the pod up and secure it to the underside of the vehicle.

“We are proud to partner with the United States Air Force and be here today to demonstrate one small part of the Chaparral’s autonomy, and how it will improve mission efficiency and airman performance when operating in a contested, GPS-denied environment,” said Karl Purdy, Director of Federal Programs at Elroy Air. “The Chaparral’s high levels of autonomy enable multi-capable Airmen to accomplish tasks outside of their core AF specialty. Its scalable logistics support to tailorable force packages enables friendly forces to execute from multiple, austere operating locations.”

The Elroy Air team with the autonomous ground navigation and cargo-handling systems of its Chaparral aircraft, after a demonstration for the United States Air Force senior and executive officers as part of the Golden Phoenix Technology Demonstration Event

The Chaparral is a transitioning “lift + cruise” VTOL aircraft with a full carbon composite airframe and a turbine-based hybrid-electric powertrain for long-range mission capabilities. It was designed to fit in a shipping container or C-130 aircraft, enabling it to be quickly shipped and deployed to missions anywhere in the world.

Designed specifically for logistics, Chaparral has unique capabilities for locating, navigating to, picking up, and dropping off Elroy Air’s lightweight, aerodynamic modular cargo pods. The pods are a core element in the Chaparral airborne logistics system — they can be pre-loaded by ground personnel and picked up by the aircraft’s robotic systems before takeoff. At the delivery location, after the system has landed the cargo pod is lowered to the ground and released.

About Elroy Air
Elroy Air is developing industry-first autonomous aircraft systems and software to expand the reach of express shipping to every person on the planet. Building on the powertrain and perception technology enabling the hybrid-electric / autonomous vehicle revolution, its vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aerial logistics systems can operate outside of airport infrastructure and evolve the possible in commercial air cargo. The company’s solutions will expand delivery locations and reduce timeframes, provide immediate aid and relief in disaster and firefighting situations, as well as rapid autonomous resupply for troops in the field. The company’s headquarters is in South San Francisco, California and it is financed by world-class venture capital firms including Catapult Ventures, Marlinspike Capital, DiamondStream Partners and Shield Capital, strategic investors including Lockheed Martin Ventures, and pioneering angel investors including early Uber executives.

For more information, visit http://elroyair.com

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Senior Battery Design Engineer (ePowertrain)

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO / POWERTRAIN / ON-SITE

At Elroy Air, we build autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo aircraft systems to change the way the world moves goods. Transporting cargo by air is faster and more efficient than by land or sea, but before recent technological and regulatory developments, it was prohibitively expensive. Today, we’re able to expand middle-mile logistics possibilities across multiple sectors. The commercial express shipping industry spends $140B annually on the middle-mile and needs faster, better solutions – while the armed forces are increasingly prioritizing unmanned aerial cargo delivery systems.

These partners and customers are already responding enthusiastically to the technologies we are pioneering. As we develop and deploy these systems, we are looking for people like you: motivated collaborators, excited by our mission and by the rare opportunity to improve how logistics works around the world. You will play an important role in establishing Elroy Air as the industry standard in this massive market.

Diverse perspectives at all levels are critical to innovation and employee development. We encourage our team to bring their whole selves to Elroy. This includes but is not limited to gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, age, ability, parenthood status, veteran status, educational background, citizenship status, or any combination of these characteristics.

The Senior Battery Design Engineer’s primary responsibility will be product design & development of aircraft battery packs, including product specification at the development level. You will be expected to work across the full life cycle of the product, from conceptual design through the start of production. Based on the system-level performance requirement, you will be expected to develop the comprehensive subsystem and component level requirements, ensuring qualification and validation of the design, provide tested technology to production teams ready for high-volume manufacturing, work alongside production and quality teams to ensure that scaled up products meet required specifications, while addressing inadequate product performance if necessary.

You should be familiar with the construction and manufacturing processes of lithium-based batteries, and have successfully worked on various battery design configurations from conceptual design through production. You will also interface with the program management team to assist with schedule development and engineering project management.

We envision this role as a full-time position in our San Francisco office, with some remote work/work-from-home flexibility. Some travel will be required including but not limited to visits to flight test locations and critical vendor visits.

What You’ll Own:

Battery module and pack design for the Chaparral aircraft program
Work with powertrain engineers on the design, construction, operation, and disassembly of battery prototypes from concept through production
Analyze the performance of batteries at various scales using electrochemical techniques including cell cycling, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and other relevant techniques
Design and perform experiments to study factors affecting battery module performance, such as material selection, welding, and packaging, and provide solutions for improvement
Product development system operations and failure analysis including FMEAs
Balance resources and cross-functional objectives in a fast-paced environment
Prepare and present progress reports to the rest of the team and engage in discussions to support the team’s technical objectives
Train, guide, and define tasks for technicians and interns to facilitate a high standard work
Project management including project conceptualization, execution, and reporting
Process improvement including product development system operations, development and characterization of new processes, and improvement of existing processes in order to improve battery performance
Generate innovative designs while taking into consideration SPC and DFM
Generate dimensional and tolerance analyses
Conduct design reviews and drive file release processes
Assist the development of manufacturing processes and fixturing which may include some travelling to suppliers for support

Our Ideal Candidate:

BS or MS Chemical, Electrochemical, or Material Sciences
5+ years experience in hands-on EV lithium-ion rechargeable battery mechanical and thermal design, build, and development in a post-academic, industry setting
Experience with 3D CAD Tools such as Siemens NX, Solidworks, etc.
Experience in 3D FEA simulations using Ansys or COMSOL in support of component optimization studies
Demonstrated knowledge of cell and battery testing methodologies
Advanced understanding of DOE, GD&T, SPC, or CP/CPK techniques for the concept, design, and process validation stages of the product life cycle
Proven track record of incorporating or utilizing design for manufacturability (DFM) or design for assembly (DFA)
Experience with various manufacturing and prototyping processes, including injection molding, jigs/tooling/fixtures, cell welding, or other processes with tight tolerances
Strong background in the design and development of precision parts
Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail
The ability to communicate efficiently with cross functional team members as well as efficiently collaborate to achieve project goals
Strong communication skills, both oral and written
Good skills and knowledge of facilitation, situational awareness, conflict resolution, continual improvement, empowerment, and increasing transparency
Strong organizational and project management skills
Failure analysis (FMEA), including validation testing, and root cause analysis
Excellent laboratory practices, record keeping, and report writing
Proactive self-starter, capable of multitasking along with the ability to excel in a small company environment

Bonus Points For:

Knowledge in 6-sigma design concepts
Battery module and pack assembly experience
Experience with Flex PCB design, material science, and basic chemistry
Experience with JIRA for project management
Experience with JAMA for requirements management
Experience in the design, testing, assembly and qualification of VTOL aircraft, electric aircraft propulsion systems, and hybrid powertrain systems

Elroy Air’s compensation package includes a competitive market salary, equity for all full-time roles, and great benefits. If you are located in the San Francisco Bay Area, our expected cash compensation for this role is $160,000 – $240,000. We are hiring for multiple levels and backgrounds so final offers may vary from the amounts listed based on experience, expertise, and other factors.

We encourage you to apply even if you aren’t an exact match for our open role as many of our team members come from nontraditional backgrounds.

All employees will be screened through E-Verify.

This position will require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Please note that any offer for employment will be conditioned on any required authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.

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Elroy Air – Flight Test Engineer

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO / FLIGHT TEST / FULL-TIME

At Elroy Air, we are building autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo aircraft systems that will change the way the world moves goods. Transporting cargo by air has so much potential! It’s much faster than by land or sea, but before recent developments in perception, autonomy, electric powertrain and aerospace materials – air transport has remained expensive. We’re going to change that. And we’re solving big problems; the commercial express logistics industry worldwide needs faster + better transport and spends $140B annually, and our men and women in uniform need a reliable unmanned aerial cargo delivery system.

Our future partners and customers are responding enthusiastically. As we prepare to fly our vehicles with customers, we are looking for people like you: motivated teammates excited by this mission and by the rare opportunity to develop a world-class autonomous aerial logistics system. You will play a critical role in bringing the Elroy Air system to the world.

Elroy Air values and strives for diversity in our workforce and does not discriminate based on applicant identity in accordance with equal employment opportunities and federal, state, and local law. We define diversity as a variety of perspectives, life experiences, and backgrounds which form a person’s identity. This includes not just gender identity and race, but also ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, age, ability, parenthood status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any combination of these characteristics.

As a flight test engineer, you will be responsible for leading the effort around building and executing comprehensive test test plans, participating in flight readiness reviews, conducting subsystem and fully integrated vehicle testing, monitoring real-time telemetry, performing flight data analysis, thoroughly documenting test results, and troubleshooting issues on Elroy’s autonomous cargo transport aircraft. You will work closely with our Vehicle Engineering, Industrial Design, Software, and Airborne teams to ensure complete test coverage.

This is an onsite, full-time, exempt role based in South San Francisco.

What you’ll own

Building and executing a flight test campaign and associated processes
Building and executing test plans for vehicle vertical lift and propulsion subsystems
Collaborating with members of the engineering team to design and build test fixtures
Being an expert of the test aircraft and its systems
Conducting flight tests as a primary member of the flight team in the GCS
Coordinating with multiple teams in support of flight test objectives
Maintaining and creating flight test operation documentation and checklists
Building and executing flight tests based on system changes
Designing tests to validate aircraft performance and usability in its target application

Our ideal candidate

5+ years experience in flight testing of manned or unmanned aircraft
Ability to work closely with engineering and other test personnel to design and execute complex tests and operations on fast-paced schedules
Proficiency in data analysis with MATLAB, Python, or other scripting tools
Belief and personal practice of strong safety culture through the use of SOPs
The ability to travel to flight & ground testing sites as-needed
Understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft performance and/or digital flight controls
Proficiency in Solidworks CAD software.
The ability to work and thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in applicable engineering field, or equivalent experience

Bonus points for

Experience with systems comprising a diverse set of hardware interfaces, communications buses, peripheral devices, and sensors
Experience with flight testing of large (1000lbs +) UAVs, VTOL aircraft, and/or manned aircraft
Experience with first flight efforts of manned or unmanned aircraft
Private Pilot or higher rating
Remote Pilot certificate

What’s in it for you

Competitive salary + equity package
Comprehensive insurance options for medical/dental/vision/long term disability/life + optional plans for commuter accounts, pet insurance, legal help, and more!
Retirement planning: 401(k) with company contribution
3 months fully paid parental leave
Highly flexible vacation policy- that we actually want you to use!
Employee Assistance Program with 24/7 support
Developing Employee Resource Groups (Affinity Groups) for underrepresented groups.
A kind, diverse, and highly skilled team
You’ll help define a new category of aerospace / logistics / robotics, and you’ll work on novel and never-before-built systems
As an early addition to a quickly growing team, you’ll help shape and define company culture and values
Flexible work arrangements (we understand you have a personal life)

We encourage you to apply even if you aren’t an exact match for our open role, many of our team members come from nontraditional backgrounds.

All employees will be screened through E-Verify.

This position will require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Please note that any offer for employment will be conditioned on any required authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

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A moment 5 years in the making

In January, Elroy Air welcomed new customers and partners to our family, we unveiled our updated Chaparral C1 vehicle, and I gave an invited talk about our company trajectory at the 2022 Transformative Vertical Flight Conference in San Jose.

Then in February, Chaparral was featured as the cover story of Aviation Week. This is like an athlete making the cover of Sports Illustrated — it’s a huge honor! Along with the rest of the team, I felt a combination of child-like excitement and a deep satisfaction for this recognition.

Elroy Air made the cover of Aviation Week in February 2022!

And in March, FedEx announced they are teaming up with us at Elroy Air “to keep the world moving forward” — this is a dream team for changing the game in express logistics.

The press noticed, and we’ve seen Elroy Air appear in Forbes, Bloomberg, and CNET, to name a few.

FedEx and Elroy Air announced our collaboration in March 2022, and the press noticed!

In what was a full-circle moment for me, we had the opportunity to display our C1 vehicle at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA. For three days, the Chaparral stood in the company of giants — from a XH-44 Hiller-copter, to a replica Wright Flyer, to a SpaceShipOne. Aside from the trove of aviation history, the Hiller Museum also has a special significance for me personally: Ten years earlier, we threw a surprise birthday party for my in-laws at the museum. My father in-law (who is a longtime private pilot and aviation enthusiast) and mother in-law walked into the building expecting to have lunch with an old friend and found 60 of their closest friends and family ready to celebrate among the airplanes. When they dropped by to check out the Chaparral on display at the Hiller, it made me (and them) so proud at what we’ve accomplished.

Moments of public acclaim can make a company look like an overnight success. But this moment is actually 5 years in the making. Our team has been hard at work — designing, building, innovating, testing and working with world-class partners and customers to get Elroy Air to where we are today.

I have huge gratitude for the Elroy Air team — engineering, design, program, operations, people ops, finance and business development — it truly took every one of you to get here. What we’re doing at Elroy Air is really hard, and you all could have found much easier ways to make a living. But our shared mission sets this work apart, and with everyone working together we’re going to bring Chaparral to the world — I’m so proud to be part of this team with all of you.

The Elroy Air team in late 2021 at a fun + productive offsite in Woodside, CA.

To our investors, advisors, customers and friends: Thank you for being part of our journey and believing in a future where every person in the world has access to the goods they need, when they need them. We’re 5 years in, it’s still early innings in our industry, and we’re on a roll. Onward and upward!

Taking flight with new opportunities - sUAS News - The Business of Drones

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Elroy Air – Lead Systems Engineer – sUAS News – The Business of Drones

At Elroy Air, we are building autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo aircraft systems that will change the way the world moves goods. Transporting cargo by air has so much potential! It’s much faster than by land or sea, but before recent developments in perception, autonomy, electric powertrain and aerospace materials – air transport has remained expensive. We’re going to change that. And we’re solving big problems; the commercial express logistics industry worldwide needs faster + better transport and spends $140B annually, and our men and women in uniform need a reliable unmanned aerial cargo delivery system.

Our future partners and customers are responding enthusiastically. As we prepare to fly our vehicles with customers, we are looking for people like you: motivated teammates excited by this mission and by the rare opportunity to develop a world-class autonomous aerial logistics system. You will play a critical role in bringing the Elroy Air system to the world.

What you’ll own:

As the Lead Systems Engineer you will be responsible for the continued management of requirements and architectures across the life of the program. Responsibility for managing and coordinating hazard and failure analysis across the program also falls under you. At Elroy we have a broad range of systems that are beyond that of a typical aircraft program, these systems include, Aerodynamics, Structures, Electric Powertrain, Hybrid Powerplant, Avionics and several others. The Lead Systems Engineer will, by necessity, have a broad understanding of the different systems and components on the aircraft.