We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and testing of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for our next gen UAS. This role is instrumental in creating robust, field-deployable support systems that enable aircraft operations, maintenance, and sustainment in military environments.
This position requires deep expertise in mechanical design, structural analysis, and aerospace ground systems. You will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations teams to develop innovative support solutions that enhance mission effectiveness and operational efficiency.
What you'll do:
- Design and develop mechanical systems for Ground Support Equipment (GSE), including power units, transport structures, launch & recovery systems, and maintenance tools.
- Create detailed CAD models, drawings, and specifications for manufacturing and assembly.
- Conduct structural, thermal, and fatigue analysis to ensure durability and reliability of GSE in field environments.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate GSE with aircraft systems and mission operations.
- Perform trade studies and system optimization to enhance portability, ruggedness, and maintainability of support systems.
- Oversee prototyping, testing, and validation of GSE designs to meet military and aviation standards.
- Develop technical documentation, test procedures, and support manuals for field operations.
- Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure cost-effective production and sustainment of GSE.
- Support flight test campaigns by providing engineering support for ground systems and test operations.
Required qualifications:
- 7+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, ground support equipment, or heavy industrial systems.
- Expertise in CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar) for 3D modeling, drawing creation, and system layout.
- Strong background in structural analysis, material selection, and manufacturing processes for ruggedized systems.
- Experience designing deployable, transportable, and field-ready aerospace support equipment.
- Knowledge of MIL-STD design requirements for aerospace ground support systems.
- 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.
- Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience designing UAS or military aircraft ground support equipment.
- Knowledge of power distribution, hydraulics, and environmental control systems for aerospace applications.
- Experience with DoD acquisition, sustainment, and field deployment strategies.
- Prior experience supporting military aircraft maintenance and sustainment operations.
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).
Skills Required
- 7+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, ground support equipment, or heavy industrial systems
- Expertise in CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar) for 3D modeling, drawing creation, and system layout
- Strong background in structural analysis, material selection, and manufacturing processes for ruggedized systems
- Experience designing deployable, transportable, and field-ready aerospace support equipment
- Knowledge of MIL-STD design requirements for aerospace ground support systems
- 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
- Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance
- Experience designing UAS or military aircraft ground support equipment
- Knowledge of power distribution, hydraulics, and environmental control systems for aerospace applications
- Experience with DoD acquisition, sustainment, and field deployment strategies
- Prior experience supporting military aircraft maintenance and sustainment operations
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one)
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
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.
Gallery
%203.jpg)
Shield AI Teams
.jpg)
Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
