Staff Engineer, Mechanical & Actuated Systems (R5293)

Shield AI•San Diego, CA

About The Position

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. As a Staff Mechanical & Actuated Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for contributing to the mechanical design and development of Shield AI's autonomous UAV products. You will help architect mechanical and actuated systems on the X-BAT platform, perform the detailed design of complex mechanical assemblies such as uplocks, doors, flight controls, landing gear, and wing fold, 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
7+ 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 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 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 electro-mechanical or hydro-mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraft
Own the full design process: concept, CAD design, analysis, tolerance stack-ups, 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, hydraulics, flight controls, and propulsion teams
Support pre-production builds, prototype integration, and ground/flight testing