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Shield AI

Senior Aerostructures Design Engineer (R5158)

Location

Dallas, TX

Wage

$130,000 – $200,000/yr

Employment Type

Full-time

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Posted on October 9, 2026

Job Description

Overview

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. They are seeking a Senior Aerostructures Design Engineer to design and develop structural components for their next-generation UAV platform.

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop structural components and assemblies for UAV platforms.
  • Execute all stages of the design lifecycle including conceptual development and drawing release.
  • Perform hand calculations for stress or strain with limited basic FEA analysis.
  • Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams.
  • Support structural validation efforts including testing and system-level verification.
  • Generate high-quality design documentation and analysis reports in compliance with aerospace standards.
  • Partner with manufacturing and flight test teams to resolve build issues.
  • Participate in design reviews and technical discussions, presenting work clearly.
  • Continuously improve personal technical depth in structural layout and optimization.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
  • 5+ years of experience in aircraft structural design or closely related aerospace structures.
  • Experience designing and releasing structural components in development or production environments.
  • Working knowledge of composite and metallic structures, including fasteners and load paths.
  • Proficiency in CAD tools (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar).
  • Understanding of GD&T, tolerance stackups, and DFMA principles.
  • Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-paced, high-ownership engineering environments.
  • Ability to get a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
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How this job compares in Dallas, TX

Pay in context

At roughly $79/hr, this posting sits about 127% above the $35/hr median for welding jobs in Dallas, TX — toward the top of a $28–$39/hr middle band drawn from 47 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 96% 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 130 other active welding openings in Dallas, TX right now, from 77 different employers. 57 of them were added in the last week. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,287 other active welding openings from 583 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 Austin Industries (35), Welding Shop in Austin, TX (25), and Zachry Group (22). 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 Abernathy at $45/hr, Arlington at $40/hr, and Pasadena at $37/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. Senior Aerostructures Design Engineer (R5158) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.