Mechanical Product Designer

Position: Mechanical Product Designer
Location: Bend, Oregon
Company: Kawak Aviation Technologies, Inc. (KATI)

About Kawak

Kawak Aviation is a focused aviation engineering and manufacturing company dedicated to supporting the world’s most critical aerial firefighting missions. We design, develop, certify, and produce mission-critical systems including aerial firefighting tanks, buckets, hydraulic systems, and aircraft components.

We operate with a small, high-performing team that values practical engineering, speed, accountability, and craftsmanship. Our work directly supports operators flying in high-risk, high-consequence environments where reliability is non-negotiable.

Position Overview

Kawak Aviation is seeking a Mechanical Product Designer to drive product development for next-generation aerial firefighting systems and aircraft-integrated equipment.

You will work across a range of systems including firefighting tanks and buckets, external load systems, hydraulic power units, and aircraft interface structures, playing a key role in shaping the next generation of Kawak products.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who thrives in fast-paced design environments, enjoys solving real-world problems, and wants to see their concepts evolve into mission-critical aviation products.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop mechanical concepts for aircraft-integrated systems
• Create and manage 3D CAD models and assemblies in SolidWorks
• Rapidly iterate multiple product designs for comparison:
• Packaging and integration
• Structural layout
• System architecture
• Usability and serviceability
• Design across a range of mechanical systems, including:
• Sheet metal and machined part assemblies (mounting systems, tanks, brackets, airframe interfaces)
• Composite components (fairings, enclosures, structural elements)
• Hydraulic systems (power units, actuation, fluid routing, control components)
• Mechanical assemblies with appropriate fastening and interfaces
• Translate high-level requirements into practical, buildable design solutions
• Collaborate closely with engineering to:
• Refine and mature selected concepts
• Transition designs into manufacturable and certifiable products
• Support prototype development, testing, and design refinement
• Ensure designs are aligned with real-world operational demands, including harsh firefighting environments

What This Role Is (and Is Not)

This role IS:

• Concept-driven and iterative
• Focused on speed, clarity, and physical problem-solving
• A critical bridge between idea and engineered product
• Highly collaborative with engineering, production, and quality

This role IS NOT:

• Primarily analysis-driven (not FEA-heavy)
• Responsible for critical structural design
• A drafting-only position

Required Qualifications

• 3–8+ years of experience in mechanical design, drafting and production documentation
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks required, Inventor a plus (due to legacy design)
• Proven ability to design mechanical assemblies and integrated systems
• Experience working with:
• Sheet metal design
• Machined component design
• Mechanical fastening and interfaces
• Basic hydraulic or fluid systems
• Graphical design (labels, placards, screen printing) a plus
• Strong spatial reasoning and 3D thinking ability
• Ability to move quickly from idea → concept → iteration

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, aviation, or heavy equipment systems
• Familiarity with composite structures and fabrication methods
• Hands-on experience building, testing, or prototyping mechanical systems
• Understanding of design for manufacturability (DFM)
• Exposure to certification-driven environments (FAA/STC or similar)

What Success Looks Like

• Rapid development of high-quality, well-thought-out design concepts
• Clear product direction established early in development
• Strong collaboration with engineering to transition concepts into production
• Designs that balance innovation, simplicity, and real-world reliability
• Meaningful contributions to Kawak’s next generation of aerial firefighting systems

Why Kawak

Kawak Aviation is focused on becoming the trusted partner behind the world’s most critical aerial firefighting missions.

We design and deliver equipment that crews rely on when the stakes are highest. Our products are built to perform in demanding environments and are trusted by operators across the world.

This role offers the opportunity to directly shape the future of aerial firefighting systems and contribute to products that have a real impact on protecting lives, property, and communities.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on experience and capability.
• Medical and dental coverage.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• A consistent weekday schedule: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• A tight-knit team working on meaningful products that serve real-world missions.

Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person