Staff Engineer, Structural Test Stand Design (R4413)

Location

Dallas, TX

Wage

$138,240 – $207,360/yr

Employment Type

Full-time

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Posted on August 31, 2026

Job Description

Overview

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians through intelligent systems. They are seeking a Structural Test Stand Design Engineer to support the development, testing, and validation of advanced mechanical systems in a dynamic lab environment.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute test plans to validate mechanical performance, structural integrity, and environmental durability.
  • Design, build, and operate test fixtures and systems involving hydraulic actuation, mechanical linkages, and sensor instrumentation.
  • Integrate and calibrate a range of sensors into test setups for accurate data collection.
  • Create and maintain python scripts for automation, signal processing, and result visualization.
  • Analyze test data, troubleshoot system behaviors, and generate detailed technical reports with design feedback.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define test requirements and deliver high quality results.
  • Lead CAD design of custom test equipment, prototypes, fixtures, and components.
  • Perform Finite Element Analysis to simulate mechanical performance and validate design assumptions.
  • Work with metallic/composite materials in the design, fabrication, and testing of mechanical components.
  • Support lab safety protocols, equipment maintenance, and continuous improvement of test capabilities.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
  • 7+ years of experience in mechanical testing or product development environments.
  • Strong working knowledge of hydraulic systems and their control/measurement.
  • Experience with sensor selection, integration, and calibration in test environments.
  • Proficiency in Python for scripting, test automation, and data analysis.
  • Advanced CAD skills in Siemens NX with experience designing test hardware and prototypes.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and in team settings.
  • Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

How this job compares in Dallas, TX

Pay in context

At roughly $83/hr, this posting sits about 137% above the $35/hr median for welding jobs in Dallas, TX — toward the top of a $30–$43/hr middle band drawn from 48 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 94% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Dallas, TX

We're tracking 124 other active welding openings in Dallas, TX right now, from 90 different employers. 55 of them were added in the last week. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,339 other active welding openings from 721 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Dallas, or widen the search to Texas.

Shield AI currently has 5 other openings live in Texas, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Welding Shop in Houston, TX (27), Zachry Group (22), and Austin Industries (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Pasadena at $40/hr, Arlington at $39/hr, and Midlothian at $38/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Dallas, TX

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Staff Engineer, Structural Test Stand Design (R4413) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.