Senior Staff Engineer, Mechanisms (R4857)

Shield AI•San Diego, CA

1d•$160,000 - $240,000

About The Position

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. As a Mechanical Engineer, you will be responsible for contributing to the mechanical design and development of Shield AI's autonomous UAV products. You will help architect new products, perform the detailed design of complex electro-mechanical assemblies, and will use best in class design and analysis tools. You will collaborate closely with internal and/or external partners to prototype, test and release products to production. You will also help ensure product features achieve performance, schedule and reliability goals.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering
8+ years in mechanical or mechanism design
Strong CAD skills (NX preferred)
Kinematic analysis and optimization
Structural analysis utilizing hand calculations and finite element methods
FEA analysis: Modal, non-linear and linear, buckling, fatigue
GD&T and tolerance stack-ups for mechanical systems
Materials selection inclusive of alloys, heat treatments, allowables, and finishes
Ability to work independently and lead in fast-paced, cross-functional teams
A demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to others

Nice To Haves

Experience with UAVs, aircraft, or robotic systems
Familiarity with hydraulic and electro-mechanical actuators
Proficiency in FMEA, DOE, and root cause analysis
Hands-on machine shop or mechanic experience (professional or hobby)
RTCA DO-160, MIL-STD-810, structural or actuated mechanism testing experience
Ability to thrive in startup, R&D, or defense innovation environments

Responsibilities

Design complex mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraft
Own the full design process: concept, CAD, tolerance analysis, material selection, and drawing release
Perform structural and kinematic calculations and preliminary FEA
Prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs for functionality and reliability
Collaborate with electrical, avionics, flight controls, and propulsion teams
Mentor junior engineers and promote engineering excellence
Support pre-production builds, prototype integration, and ground/flight testing