Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
Shield AI is seeking a Senior Structural Design Engineer to support the development of structural components for our next-generation autonomous aircraft. As a key contributor on the Mechanical Engineering team, you will design and develop high-performance structural components from concept through production release.
You’ll work cross-functionally to ensure structural integrity, manufacturability, and system integration across one of the most advanced autonomous aircraft platforms being built today. This role is ideal for an aerospace mechanical engineer who thrives in hands-on design environments and is eager to take increasing ownership of flight-critical designs.
What you'll do:
Lead the design and development of structural components and assemblies for Shield AI’s next-gen UAV platform, with a focus on primary and secondary aircraft structures. Own the structural design lifecycle including concept generation, CAD modeling, detail design, and drawing release, ensuring high quality and traceability. Use FEA tools to perform and guide linear and nonlinear structural analysis, stress analysis, and margin assessment under operational loads and edge cases. Work closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless system integration across airframe and subsystem interfaces. Support and lead efforts in material selection, focusing on composites, aluminum alloys, and advanced manufacturing approaches suited to mission and environment. Participate in and lead design reviews, architecture discussions, and technical decision-making forums related to structural systems. Oversee the design and execution of structural validation testing, including coupon-level, subcomponent, and full-system testing. Guide the development of design documentation, analysis reports, interface definitions, and verification plans in compliance with MIL-STD, FAA, and internal Shield AI standards. Mentor junior engineers and review team members’ work for technical rigor, performance, and manufacturability. Collaborate with the manufacturing and flight test teams to transition designs from engineering to production and field deployment. Identify opportunities to improve design processes, configuration management, and team workflows for increased engineering velocity and design quality.
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline. 2+ years of experience in aircraft structural design, with demonstrated ownership of components or systems in development, test, or production. Deep understanding of composite and metallic structures, including material behavior, joints, and thermal/environmental effects. Expertise in CAD tools (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) and FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar). Experience conducting or overseeing stress analysis, fatigue analysis, and design optimization. Strong working knowledge of DFMA, GD&T, tolerance stackups, and structural layout principles. Clear, concise technical communication skills and experience leading cross-functional engineering efforts. A track record of technical excellence, high ownership, and a mission-driven mindset in challenging engineering environments.
Preferred qualifications:
M.S. degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering. NX CAD experience Experience supporting or leading Group 3–5 UAV, DoD aircraft, or high-performance aerospace vehicle programs. Knowledge of aerospace standards (MIL-STD, ASME Y14.5, FAA FARS) and certification pathways. Prior experience in flight vehicle integration, manufacturing liaison, or production support. Familiarity with model-based engineering, digital twin development, or configuration management tools. Demonstrated experience in failure analysis, design iteration, and test correlation. Previous work in startup, R&D, or high-growth defense environments where agility and innovation are key.
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference che