Staff Engineering Specialist, Harness Design

Shield AI • Dallas, TX

6d • $36 - $54

About The Position

We are growing the Hardware Test - Electrical Engineering team to support V-BAT and X-BAT test development, sustaining, and production support activities. Shield AI is on a mission to build the world’s best AI pilot—and we’re looking for a Hardware Test - Harness Design Specialist help power that vision. In this high-impact, high-ownership role, you’ll take the lead in architecting and designing the complex wire harnesses and cable assemblies that test the nervous system of our autonomous UAV platforms. Your expertise in harness design won’t just support the mission—it will enable it. From concept to deployment, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring reliability, precision, and performance in the field, where failure is not an option. If you’re passionate about cutting-edge aerospace technology and want to build systems that make a real-world difference, this is your chance to make your mark—on the ground and in the skies.

Requirements

• 1+ year in wire harness design for automotive, aerospace or robotics (advanced skill set preferred)
• Experience with electrical schematics and connector selection
• Hands-on experience with harness fabrication or testing
• 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering
• Experience designing harnesses for automotive, UAV, or spacecraft
• Experience using EWIS design software (Zuken, Capital, etc)
• Expertise in GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards
• Familiarity with EWIS compliance and RTCA DO-160 testing
• Proficiency in failure mode analysis (FMEA) and root cause investigations
• Knowledge of Teamcenter or similar PLM systems

Responsibilities

• Architect and design complex wire harnesses and cable assemblies for UAV subsystem and HIL/SIL test environments
• Execute full lifecycle harness development, including electrical topology definition, schematic creation, CAD routing, conductor selection, shielding/grounding strategy, and DFM/DFA considerations
• Perform analysis of harness electrical performance, including impedance control, signal integrity, voltage drop, EMI/EMC susceptibility, and environmental derating
• Apply aerospace-grade validation techniques, such as continuity verification, hipot testing, insulation resistance testing, and environmental exposure assessments
• Prototype, debug, and validate harness assemblies in hardware-in-the-loop testbeds and dynamic flight-representative configurations
• Interface closely with avionics, systems engineering, test engineering, and manufacturing to ensure alignment of requirements, connector ecosystems, pinouts, and integration workflows
• Define and maintain harness documentation packages, including detailed drawings, BOMs, wire tables, and configuration baselines
• Mentor technicians on best practices for EWIS design, standards compliance, manufacturability, and reliability engineering
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees