Senior Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Test (R4325)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn , X , Instagram , and YouTube .

Job Description:

Shield AI is pioneering the development of AI-powered autonomous aircraft for national defense, pushing the boundaries of aerospace innovation. Our next gen UAS is a next-generation, high-endurance unmanned system designed for deployment in complex, contested environments.

We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Test Engineer to lead the design, development, and testing of Flight Hardware of our next gen UAS. This role is instrumental in creating robust, fixed, or field-deployable test systems that enable hardware qualification, environmental testing, stress testing, and sustainment in military environments.

This position requires deep expertise in mechanical design, structural analysis, and aerospace ground systems. You will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations teams to develop innovative support solutions that enhance mission effectiveness and operational efficiency

What you'll do:

• Own requirements gathering, design, analysis, and build of mechanical and structural systems.
• Oversee prototyping, testing, and validation of structural designs to meet military and aviation standards.
• Create detailed CAD models, drawings, and specifications for manufacturing and assembly.
• Design structural and electromechanical test stands and test fixtures that interface with aircraft, engines, electric motors, circuit boards, and various other aeronautical components.
• Conduct structural, thermal, and fatigue analysis to ensure durability and reliability of hardware in field environments.
• Contribute to and attend cross-functional design reviews. Advocate for design changes that result in simpler testing processes.
• Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure cost-effective production and sustainment of test systems.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related STEM field.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, ground support equipment, or heavy industrial systems.
• Mastery of fundamental engineering concepts, including Mech E, Programming, Physics, and Mathematics.
• Expertise in CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar) for 3D modeling, drawing creation, and system layout.
• Strong background in structural analysis, material selection, and manufacturing processes for ruggedized systems.
• Experience designing aerospace support or civil support equipment.
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA), thermal analysis, and fatigue/lifecycle testing.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with evolving priorities.
• Record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience designing UAS or large aerospace grade structures.
• Ability to rapidly manufacture your designs in a machine shop.
• Experience designing facilities systems and owning large scale projects from start to finish
• Knowledge of hydraulics, structural analysis, and Nondestructive (NDE/NDT) aerospace applications

$112,439 - $168,659 a year

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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.

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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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.