As the Battery system mechanical lead, you will be responsible for all mechanical aspects of battery systems for X-BAT, the Launch and Recovery Vehicle, and ground equipment. This includes battery enclosure design, internal cell packaging and interconnection, qualification, integration, and release to manufacturing.
You will help us build a team of world-class engineers to support all design needs. A vertically integrated battery pack design will enable top performance, ease of integration, reliability, and rapid supply chain procurement. If you enjoy working cross-functionally and solving hard problems, please apply!
What you'll do:
Design, develop, and integrate internal components (cells, PCBAs, current collectors, etc.) mounting and retention, cell compliance, coolant routing, vent routing, harness and connector integration
Collaborate with thermal department on executing internal thermal design (material selection, insulation, heatsink, flow rates, pressure drops, etc.)
Coordinate with process engineering and battery experts to determine weld schedule for cell electrode-to-current collector interfaces
Drive optimal performance while managing size, weight, DFM, safety, and reliability
Hands-on prototyping, testing, qualification, and handoff to production
Define assembly drawings, designing for tolerance, assembly, and serviceability
Ensure system performance and reliability is met through rigorous System-level shock, vibration, and thermal verification
Investigate root-cause for the mechanical package, environmental, manufacturing, etc.
Support design reviews, drive execution of assigned engineering deliverables in support of program objectives
Work in a fast-paced environment
Required qualifications:
- You have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
Battery module design experience on power systems (large aircraft, submarine, automotive, etc.)
5+ years relevant experience
Have delivered battery power systems to market
Proficient with mechanical engineering development tools, simulation, and test equipment
Strong technical fundamentals and analysis
Skills Required
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
- Battery design experience on large aircraft or equivalent power systems (rocket, satellite, submarine, etc.)
- 5+ years relevant experience
- Delivered battery power systems to market
- Proficient with electrical engineering development tools, simulation, and test equipment
- Strong technical fundamentals and analysis
What the Team is Saying
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials highlight comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with mental-health support and an EAP. Third-party benefits summaries also portray health coverage as a strong component of the package.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with employer matching, cited on the careers page and independent benefits directories. Multiple sources indicate a match exists, though exact formulas have varied over time and warrant confirmation.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Company communications describe equity for all full-time hires and stock benefits as part of total rewards. Independent listings also note company equity/RSUs as a standard element.
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 Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
