We are seeking a highly motivated engineer to support the design, development, integration, and fielding of a next-generation autonomous aircraft system. This position requires a balance of technical rigor, rapid decision-making, and hands-on engineering to efficiently transition concepts into operational capability. The ideal candidate is comfortable solving complex problems, taking ownership, working within an accelerated aircraft development environment, and is motivated by getting meaningful capability into the hands of operators quickly.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Design complex electro-mechanical solutions for avionics packaging, electrical interconnects, thermal management, and aircraft integration
- Perform structural, preliminary thermal, and modal analyses for avionics to ensure survivability in harsh environments
- Ensure avionics meet performance, safety, environmental, and EMI/EMC compliance standards, including DO-160, DO-254, DO-178C, MIL-STD-810, and MIL-STD-461
- Own your design work from concept to reviews through system validation, failure analysis, and flight test readiness.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- B.S. and/or MS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering
- 10+ years of experience in mechanical & electrical equipment design for aerospace, including harness integration and mechanical component design
- Expertise in CAD software (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar) for 3D modeling, drawing creation, and system layout.
- Familiarity with eCAD software (Altium, Cadence, Allegro), and harness design software (Capital, Zuken)
- Experience working with electrical engineers to define PCB constraints, develop circuit cards, and care for all the mechanical interfaces
- Familiarity with the PCB layout process and advanced manufacturing methods
- Experience with finite element analysis (FEA), thermal analysis, and fatigue/lifecycle testing
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with evolving priorities
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- 10+ years of experience in mechanical and electrical equipment design for aerospace
- Experience with harness integration and mechanical component design
- Expertise with CAD software such as NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar
- Familiarity with eCAD software such as Altium, Cadence, or Allegro
- Familiarity with harness design software such as Capital or Zuken
- Experience collaborating with electrical engineers to define PCB constraints, develop circuit cards, and manage mechanical interfaces
- Familiarity with PCB layout processes and advanced manufacturing methods
- Experience with finite element analysis, thermal analysis, and fatigue or lifecycle testing
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with evolving priorities
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as excellent, with dental/vision and mental‑health support, and ancillary protections like life and disability appearing in benefit summaries. The breadth and perceived affordability of coverage are highlighted as a standout component of the package.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave is featured alongside enhanced maternity benefits, fertility and childcare support, and onsite resources such as a Mother’s Room. These elements are positioned as competitive and above the minimal baseline for the company’s stage.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is granted to all full‑time hires, with RSUs, double‑trigger tax timing, and tools to model scenarios (e.g., through Carta Tax). Communications also reference a transition from options to RSUs, reinforcing access and maturity of ownership programs.
Shield AI Insights
What We Do
At Shield AI, you won't wait years to see your work reach the field. You'll build hardware and software that operates in the real world right now, in the hands of the people who depend on it. Hivemind, our AI pilot, has been flying since 2018. It has flown more than 30 platforms, including an F-16, and it now sits under a U.S. Air Force production contract for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. When you write code or shape a system here, you contribute to technology with a proven flight record and a clear production future. V-BAT flies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with an operational record that stretches from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific. It delivers eyes where they matter most, in the most demanding conditions on earth. The teams behind it watch their work get tested where the stakes are real. X-BAT takes its first flight this year. It's an AI-piloted fighter that needs no runway, built to operate where traditional aircraft can't. Join now and you help shape a program at its earliest, most formative stage. That's the kind of ground-floor work that defines a career. Do the most impactful work of your life, on problems that matter. Autonomy at this level asks a lot of you. You'll take on problems in perception, planning, and control that few teams anywhere are equipped to solve. You'll work across disciplines, from aerospace and robotics to machine learning and systems engineering, alongside people who hold themselves to an exacting standard and expect the same from you. Our mission is clear: protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. That purpose runs through every decision, every design review, and every deployment. It's why the work here carries a weight you can feel. Ready to join our mission? Explore our open roles and find where you fit.
Why Work With Us
Founded in 2015 by a former Navy SEAL, Shield AI builds AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft. Veterans aren't an afterthought here, they're at every level. It's why the work carries weight: AI pilots and uncrewed aircraft flying real missions, from Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific, protecting service members and civilians.
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Shield AI Teams
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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
