Lead design and development of aerostructures from concept through production, ensuring structural integrity, manufacturability, and system integration. Manage cross-functional teams, apply composite and metallic structural knowledge, oversee release processes, and support testing and production readiness for autonomous aircraft.
Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Shield AI is seeking an Aerostructures Design Manager to support the development of structural components for our next-generation autonomous aircraft. As a contributor on the Structures team you will lead the design and develop high-performance structural components from concept through production release.
You’ll work cross-functionally to ensure structural integrity, manufacturability, and system integration across one of the most advanced autonomous aircraft platforms being built today. This role is ideal for an aerospace engineer with significant hands-on design experience with both composite or metallic airframes as well as demonstrated team lead experience.
You’ll work cross-functionally to ensure structural integrity, manufacturability, and system integration across one of the most advanced autonomous aircraft platforms being built today. This role is ideal for an aerospace engineer with significant hands-on design experience with both composite or metallic airframes as well as demonstrated team lead experience.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
- 8+ years of experience in aircraft structural design or closely related aerospace structures.
- Experience with team leadership as a project or IPT style team lead
- Experience designing and releasing structural components in development or production environments.
- Working knowledge of composite and metallic structures, including fasteners, bonded joints, and load paths.
- Proficiency in CAD tools (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar).
- Understanding of GD&T, tolerance stackups, and DFMA principles.
- Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-paced, high-ownership engineering environments.
- Ability to get a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
Preferred qualifications:
- M.S. degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
- Experience supporting UAV, DoD, or aerospace full vehicle programs.
- Familiarity with aerospace standards (MIL-STD, ASME Y14.5, FAA).
- Experience fabricating and testing large scale aerospace structures such as wings, fuselages or similar.
- Demonstrated understanding of composite manufacturing methods.
- Experience using FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar) for linear structural analysis.
#LI-MS1
#LD
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
###
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Similar Jobs at Shield AI
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Manage end-to-end production and execution of multi-channel paid media campaigns, coordinate agencies and internal teams, oversee website and landing page operations, handle asset formatting/trafficking/versioning, and build process, workflow, automation, and AI-driven optimizations to improve campaign speed, accuracy, and scalability.
Top Skills:
AIAsanaAutomation ToolsCampaign Management SystemsCms PlatformsCtvGoogle AdsJIRALinkedin Campaign ManagerProgrammatic AdvertisingYoutube
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead integration, validation, and fielding of advanced weapon capabilities on X-Bat across the full lifecycle. Define system behaviors and architectures, coordinate cross-functional integration, support lab/ground/flight tests, perform troubleshooting and root-cause analysis to reduce integration risk and accelerate capability delivery.
Top Skills:
Cameo Systems ModelerHilMbseMil-Std-1553Mil-Std-1760Sil
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead design and development of advanced electrical systems for autonomous aircraft, including circuit and subsystem design, part selection, schematic capture, simulation, verification, debugging, and production releases. Integrate embedded systems and sensors for autonomy, coordinate cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, define technical requirements, and develop automated test solutions to improve hardware reliability and production readiness.
Top Skills:
AnalogDigitalEmbedded SystemsFirmwareFpgasMicrocontrollersPower ManagementRadiosSensorsServos
What you need to know about the Seattle Tech Scene
Home to tech titans like Microsoft and Amazon, Seattle punches far above its weight in innovation. But its surrounding mountains, sprinkled with world-famous hiking trails and climbing routes, make the city a destination for outdoorsy types as well. Established as a logging town before shifting to shipbuilding and logistics, the Emerald City is now known for its contributions to aerospace, software, biotech and cloud computing. And its status as a thriving tech ecosystem is attracting out-of-town companies looking to establish new tech and engineering hubs.
Key Facts About Seattle Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 287,000; 13% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, software, biotechnology, game development
- Funding Landscape: $3.1 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Madrona, Fuse, Tola, Maveron
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
