Staff Avionics Engineer, Electrical Systems - Ranger (R6345)

Shield•Seattle, WA

21h

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking a Staff or Sr. Staff Avionics Engineer, Electrical Systems to lead the design, development, integration, and verification of aircraft electrical systems for a new advanced autonomous aircraft. The engineer will own assigned electrical systems from requirements definition and architecture through component selection, detailed design, aircraft integration, ground and flight testing, and production support. The role translates vehicle and avionics requirements into reliable designs for power distribution, power conversion, circuit protection, grounding and bonding, wiring, and equipment interfaces. The position works closely with Avionics, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, Flight Controls, Propulsion, Manufacturing, and Test teams to ensure electrical hardware integrates successfully across the aircraft. The ideal candidate has strong electrical engineering fundamentals and practical flight-hardware experience, can independently lead complex subsystem development and resolve integration issues, guide suppliers, and mentor engineers, while maintaining disciplined requirements, documentation, and verification practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline, with 7 or more years of relevant experience developing avionics, aircraft electrical systems, or comparable complex electrical hardware.
Demonstrated ownership of electrical subsystem development through requirements definition, design, hardware integration, and verification, including experience with aircraft power distribution, power conversion, circuit protection, and equipment interfaces.
Strong understanding of electrical load analysis, voltage drop, wire and connector sizing, grounding and bonding, shielding, electromagnetic compatibility, and fault isolation.
Experience developing electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface definitions, and component specifications.
Practical experience integrating and troubleshooting electrical hardware using oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, electronic loads, and related laboratory equipment.
Ability to develop test plans and interpret results at component, subsystem, and integrated-system levels.
Demonstrated ability to independently resolve complex technical problems, coordinate across engineering disciplines and suppliers, and communicate design decisions and risks clearly.
Experience maintaining requirements traceability, configuration control, and verification documentation.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Experience developing electrical systems for manned aircraft, autonomous aircraft, uncrewed aircraft, advanced aviation platforms, or other flight-critical aerospace applications, including ground and flight-test support.
Experience with battery systems, generators, power electronics, redundant power architectures, load shedding, power sequencing, and electrical fault detection and protection strategies.
Familiarity with applicable aerospace environmental qualification, electrical power quality, electromagnetic compatibility, and airworthiness practices.
Experience using electrical design tools, along with requirements and configuration management systems.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

Own requirements, architecture, design, and verification for assigned aircraft electrical systems, including power distribution, conversion, protection, switching, grounding, bonding, and electrical interfaces for avionics and vehicle equipment.
Develop and maintain electrical schematics, interface control documents, equipment specifications, wiring requirements, and electrical load analyses.
Evaluate operating modes, power budgets, voltage drop, transient behavior, fault conditions, and design margins to guide component selection and system sizing.
Lead electrical integration across avionics, sensors, communications, actuation, propulsion interfaces, and supporting aircraft systems.
Partner with mechanical and harness engineering teams to define connector selections, pin assignments, routing constraints, shielding, separation, and installation requirements.
Define and execute verification activities from component testing through aircraft integration, ground testing, and flight-test support.
Develop test procedures, troubleshoot electrical anomalies, investigate failures, and implement corrective actions supported by analysis and test evidence.
Lead technical reviews and supplier coordination for assigned systems, manage interfaces and engineering changes, and support manufacturing and production troubleshooting.
Mentor engineers and improve design practices to strengthen reliability, maintainability, testability, and delivery quality.