What you will do in this role:
- Own the design of propulsion components and subsystems from concept through production release
- Develop and maintain high-quality CAD models, detailed drawings, and assemblies using Siemens NX with fully applied GD&T
- Write and enforce propulsion design standards and contribute to company-wide design best practices
- Collaborate closely with the machine shop, production team, and technicians to support builds, resolve non-conformances, and drive iterative improvements
- Develop initial work instructions, assembly guidance, and design documentation for repeatability and scalability
- Ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, and cost-effective, with strong understanding of machining, tolerances, materials, and assembly workflows
- Apply engineering analysis and judgment (e.g., hand calcs, GFSSP, ANSYS, FEA, REFPROP) to support sizing, load cases, and design validation
- Support configuration management, BOM control, and change processes using Teamcenter or equivalent PLM
- Participate in design reviews, interface control working groups, and root cause investigations
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- 7+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, with direct propulsion hardware experience preferred
- Expert-level proficiency in CAD modeling and drawing creation (NX preferred) and application of GD&T
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally with production, machine shop personnel, and technicians to solve real-time hardware issues
- Familiarity with design for manufacturing, including machining processes, surface modeling, stack-up analysis, and fabrication limitations
- Hands-on experience developing assembly work instructions, troubleshooting build issues, and implementing hardware-driven design changes
- Experience with configuration management, PLM systems (Teamcenter), and BOM structure
- U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with GFSSP, REFPROP, ANSYS, FEA, or other mechanical and thermal analysis tools
- Ability to write Python scripts for design automation, data analysis, or simulation support
- Proficient in interface control and tolerance stack-up analysis for complex assemblies
- Knowledge of fastening methods and joint design for high-vibration, aerospace environments
- Familiarity with high-temperature materials and design practices for thermally stressed components
- Prior experience designing hardware for internal combustion, turbine, or rocket propulsion systems, particularly in development or test environments
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
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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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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