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Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
The Role
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
Job Description:
The Senior Staff Manufacturing Engineer will serve as a technical leader during a period of aggressive growth, responsible for scaling existing operations and architecting a new production line for a larger, more capable aircraft. This includes end-to-end responsibility for designing processes, selecting and deploying equipment, and integrating software and infrastructure systems to support high-rate production. You’ll collaborate closely with leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams to drive strategic manufacturing initiatives. You’ll also set technical direction for complex problems, mentor engineering teams, and lead efforts to build a scalable, world-class production system from the ground up.
What You'll Do:
- Provide technical leadership across multiple product lines and facilities during a period of aggressive production scaling.
- Architect manufacturing systems and infrastructure to support increased demand and the introduction of a new, larger jet platform.
- Lead cross-functional efforts to design and stand up a new production line from the ground up, including layout, equipment selection, software/tool integration, and validation.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to ensure timely procurement and deployment of key manufacturing assets.
- Define long-term strategies for process control, automation, and data integration to support scalable, world-class production.
- Serve as a mentor and technical advisor for engineering teams responsible for high-complexity manufacturing challenges.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or relevant experience
- 10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with a focus in rapid growth environments
- Experience in owning the scale of production processes in a startup or rapid-growth environment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including machining, composites, avionics and/or assembly.
- Experience with process improvement methodologies, such as Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and adapt to changing priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of quality standards, such as AS9100 or ISO 9001.
- Proficiency in CAD software
- Familiarity with advanced manufacturing technologies, such as additive manufacturing or automation systems.
- Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and data-driven decision-making in a manufacturing context.
- Hands-on experience with manufacturing equipment and tooling design.
- Strong project management skills, including experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
#LI-JM1
#LE
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 check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Shield AI and has not been reviewed or approved by Shield AI.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as excellent, spanning medical, dental, vision, mental‑health EAP, and optional pet insurance. Location‑based wellness perks such as onsite or discounted gym access reinforce the health offering.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is positioned as a standard component of total rewards for full‑time employees, with stock/RSUs noted across roles. Access appears broad‑based rather than limited to select cohorts.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time‑off programs highlight paid parental leave alongside an accrual‑based PTO structure with a high carryover cap. Flexibility elements such as flexible hours complement the core leave offering.
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The Company
What We Do
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.
Why Work With Us
What makes Shield AI special is our people. We unlock the power of autonomy, and in the face of overwhelming odds and challenges, we find ways to win and make a difference for our customers. We bring together software, AI, and aerospace engineering disciplines to deploy the most intelligent aviation capabilities in the world.
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