Jobs at Shield AI

Design and develop primary and secondary structural components for a next-generation UAV. Execute full design lifecycle, perform hand calculations and limited FEA, collaborate across disciplines, support validation/testing, and produce design documentation and drawings to aerospace standards.

Design end-to-end human-machine interfaces for UAV ground control station software. Create wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes in Figma; apply human factors principles for real-time data visualization, conduct usability testing and simulations, and collaborate with engineers, pilots, and human factors experts to maintain scalable design systems.

Leads advanced manufacturing engineering across multiple defense and aerospace programs. Responsibilities include defining manufacturing processes, mapping material bills of manufacturing, designing workstations and tooling, creating controlled work instructions, conducting time studies, improving throughput through lean methods, implementing MES/QMS systems, supporting quality and first article inspection readiness, managing engineering change orders, and mentoring engineers during new production-line development.

Supports manufacturing process development, tooling and fixture design, documentation, prototype builds, NPI, production ramp-up, and continuous improvement for aerospace systems. Partners with engineering, quality, operations, and supply chain to improve manufacturability, troubleshoot production issues, conduct root cause analysis, validate processes, and ensure compliance with engineering and quality requirements.

Fabricate, instrument, assemble, and test aerospace prototype hardware and X-BAT flight-ready structures. Install sensors, route cabling, integrate data acquisition systems, perform mechanical and MIL-STD testing, document results, troubleshoot anomalies, maintain equipment records, and support machine shop, composite, and prototype fabrication activities.

Leads integrated execution of a U.S. Air Force aircraft development program from concept development through integration, flight testing, demonstration, and production readiness. Coordinates engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, government stakeholders, and industry partners while managing schedules, budgets, risks, technical dependencies, customer commitments, affordability, and production transition. Provides executive visibility and drives resolution of critical-path issues across aircraft, propulsion, avionics, autonomy, mission systems, and ground systems.

Designs and integrates aircraft mechanical systems and components, including installation layouts, subsystem routing, CAD assemblies, engineering drawings, BOMs, and product releases. Applies GD&T, tolerance analysis, and structural calculations while supporting prototype builds, production integration, and issue resolution. Collaborates with avionics, manufacturing, systems engineering, stress, quality, supply chain, and test teams to deliver manufacturable, maintainable, and reliable aerospace hardware.

Leads mechanical integration of aircraft subsystems from concept through production, including installation architecture, equipment packaging, routing, interface definition, drawings, tolerance analyses, and manufacturing support. Coordinates multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, prototype builds, and production issue resolution. Designs complex machined, composite, fabricated, and sheet-metal assemblies; supports technical planning and risk management; and mentors junior engineers in CAD, GD&T, installation design, and engineering practices.

Leads the mechanical, thermal, and EWIS engineering organization for X-BAT aircraft and ground avionics. Sets technical strategy, architecture, standards, and processes; builds and scales engineering teams; oversees flight-critical hardware from concept through production; manages suppliers and contract manufacturers; and partners across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program leadership. Requires extensive hands-on mechanical design experience, senior people leadership, avionics expertise, and the ability to obtain a Secret clearance.

Leads X-BAT aircraft prototype builds, manufacturing facility setup, production-team development, launch readiness, and transition into sustained rate production. Owns safety, quality, delivery, cost, capacity, staffing, tooling, material flow, traceability, and continuous improvement. Partners across Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to establish scalable production systems, resolve build issues, improve throughput, and ensure operational readiness for a new Seattle-area facility.

Leads aircraft quality from prototype through production launch and rate production. Builds the Seattle quality organization and QMS, establishes inspection and traceability controls, manages audits and certification readiness, and owns production quality metrics, nonconformance, MRB, corrective action, supplier quality, and acceptance processes. Partners across engineering, manufacturing, production, and supply chain to prevent defects, ensure regulatory and customer compliance, and scale reliable aircraft manufacturing.

Lead integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software onto X-BAT aircraft. Coordinate aircraft engineering, autonomy software, manufacturing, lab, ground-test, and flight-test teams. Own integrated plans, schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, readiness reviews, technical performance, and operational deployment outcomes. Facilitate cross-functional decisions, mitigate critical-path risks, track program financials and deliverables, support technical documentation, and contribute to proposals and strategic customer engagements.

Build, validate, troubleshoot, repair, and sustain electrical test systems for aerospace hardware. Perform PCBA and harness testing and rework, design interface electronics and fixtures, support production issues, maintain calibration and configuration control, document root causes, improve testability and serviceability, and mentor technicians and engineers.

Leads technical execution for the X-BAT autonomous combat aircraft across design, integration, testing, maturation, and production. Maintains system requirements, architecture, interfaces, configuration, performance, verification, and airworthiness baselines. Directs multidisciplinary engineering integration, technical trade studies, risk mitigation, design reviews, root-cause investigations, and flight-test readiness. Partners with program management, manufacturing, supply chain, customers, and external partners while developing technical leaders and communicating aircraft status, risks, and decisions to executives.

Conduct RF hardware testing for airborne and ground systems, including S-parameter, gain, power, noise, and emissions measurements. Operate and calibrate laboratory instruments, automate testing with Python or MATLAB, analyze data, troubleshoot anomalies, document results, and support EMI/EMC, environmental, qualification, integration, and flight testing. Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and supplier teams while maintaining laboratory and configuration-control processes.

Lead the architecture, roadmap, and delivery of electrical test equipment for X-BAT aircraft systems. Define reusable hardware, software, safety, calibration, and documentation standards; manage complex test programs from requirements through deployment; improve reliability and diagnosability; support design-for-testability; lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions; manage vendors and build-versus-buy decisions; and mentor engineers across the organization.

Leads a mechanical engineering team responsible for designing, analyzing, building, and validating X-BAT hardware test stands, fixtures, tooling, and support systems. Owns requirements, detailed design, fabrication, assembly, documentation, and deployment. Performs structural and thermal assessments, applies GD&T and DFM/DFA practices, coordinates with cross-functional teams and vendors, supports troubleshooting, and improves test processes, quality, and execution.

Manage complex defense contracts and subcontracts from preparation through administration, negotiation, modification, and closeout. Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and company policies; advise business development and supply chain; assess contractual and regulatory risks; manage government contract reporting and records; negotiate supplier terms; evaluate subcontractor proposals; protect technical data and software rights; and maintain small business subcontracting plans.

Leads regional facilities operations across multiple sites, supervising Facilities Coordinators, managing vendors and budgets, resolving facility issues, and delivering non-capital workplace projects. Oversees maintenance, workplace improvements, compliance, physical security coordination, employee experience, reporting, and operational readiness across offices, laboratories, manufacturing spaces, warehouses, hangars, and secure environments. Requires approximately 20% regional travel and occasional after-hours response.

Design and develop RF and microwave modules for airborne and ground systems, from requirements and circuit design through PCB layout, laboratory verification, qualification, and production release. Perform RF simulation, electromagnetic analysis, hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, and characterization. Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and test teams while supporting integration, environmental qualification, production testing, and flight testing.