Shield AI

Overview

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians through intelligent systems. The company is seeking a highly motivated engineer to support the design and development of a next-generation autonomous aircraft system.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of structural components and assemblies for Shield AI’s next-gen UAV platform.
• Own the structural design lifecycle including concept generation, CAD modeling, detail design, and drawing release.
• Use FEA tools to perform and guide structural analysis and margin assessment under operational loads.
• Work closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams for system integration.
• Support and lead efforts in material selection, focusing on composites and aluminum alloys.
• Participate in and lead design reviews and technical decision-making forums.
• Oversee the design and execution of structural validation testing.
• Guide the development of design documentation and verification plans in compliance with standards.
• Mentor junior engineers and review team members’ work for technical rigor and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and flight test teams to transition designs to production.
• Identify opportunities to improve design processes and team workflows.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in aircraft structural design.
• Deep understanding of composite and metallic structures.
• Expertise in CAD tools (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) and FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar).
• Experience conducting or overseeing stress analysis and design optimization.
• Strong working knowledge of DFMA, GD&T, and structural layout principles.
• Clear technical communication skills and experience leading cross-functional engineering efforts.
• A track record of technical excellence and high ownership in challenging environments.
• Ability to get a S//SAR level security clearance desired.