Shield AI is pioneering AI pilots for aircraft that protect service members and civilians—pushing the boundaries of autonomous flight. V-BAT is designed for deployment in the most demanding, high-stakes environments.
We are looking for a failure analysis engineer to join our team, focused on the design, integration and troubleshooting of electronics systems critical to our aircraft. This role is perfect for an engineer with a solid foundation in power systems, embedded systems who is eager to grow, own challenging projects, and see their work move rapidly from concept to flight. If you thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy solving complex problems, and want to help build the future of autonomous aviation, we want to hear from you.
What you'll do:
- Lead failure analysis investigations for avionics hardware, including: PCBAs (digital, analog, power, mixed-signal), harnesses, connectors, and interconnects
- Perform root cause analysis (RCA) using structured methodologies (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, Fault Tree, etc.)
- Conduct and/or oversee electrical, mechanical, and environmental failure analysis
- Collaborate with design engineers to identify design vulnerabilities, manufacturing and suppliers on process-related issues
- Work closely with cross-functional teams (reliability, mechanical, embedded, software, production, supply chain, etc.)
- Drive design, process, and supplier corrective actions to closure
- Author clear, data-driven failure analysis reports and present findings to technical and program leadership
- Mentor junior engineers and help establish best practices for failure analysis and reliability
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering; or equivalent work experience
- You have 8+ years of experience in failure analysis, reliability, or hardware debug for aerospace, defense, or high-reliability electronics
- Strong technical fundamentals
- Experienced with cross-sectioning, microscopy, X-ray, and other FA techniques
- Strong hands-on experience with PCBA failure mechanisms (solder joints, vias, components, PCB materials), Harnesses, connectors, crimping, shielding, and interconnect reliability
- Demonstrated track record of extreme ownership, working hard, and delivering outstanding outcomes
- A track record of successfully delivery of products and solutions, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed expectations in a fast-paced environment
- Proactively identify opportunities for improvement within organization, demonstrating initiative to propose and implement
- innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and overall project success and aircraft reliability
- Ability to independently drive investigations from symptom to root cause
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent experience
- 8+ years in failure analysis, reliability, or hardware debug for aerospace, defense, or high-reliability electronics
- Strong technical fundamentals in electrical/electronics engineering
- Experience with cross-sectioning, microscopy, X-ray, and other failure analysis techniques
- Hands-on experience with PCBA failure mechanisms (solder joints, vias, components, PCB materials)
- Experience with harnesses, connectors, crimping, shielding, and interconnect reliability
- Proven ability to independently drive investigations from symptom to root cause
- Track record of delivering products and solutions under deadlines in fast-paced environments
- Demonstrated ownership, initiative, and ability to propose and implement process improvements
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage alongside a mental‑health EAP. Site perks such as an onsite gym in DC and a gym discount in San Diego support a health‑focused offering.
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Retirement Support — Careers materials highlight a 401(k) with company match as part of the standard package. A Total Rewards overview emphasizes retirement features within a broader, transparent compensation view.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Compensation for in‑demand technical and senior go‑to‑market roles is described as competitive, with visible engineering ranges and top‑end packages. This points to meaningful upside tied to role, level, and scarce skills.
Shield AI Insights
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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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
