Sr Manager, Aerostructures Design

Shield AI; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI in San Diego is seeking a Sr Manager of Aerostructures Design for X-BAT to lead the design organization. You will drive the development of advanced aircraft structures and mentor a world-class engineering team.

With over 12 years of structural engineering experience required, the role involves collaboration across multiple disciplines and presentations to executive leadership. Compensation ranges from $210,000 to $320,000 annually, plus bonuses and benefits.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of aerospace structural engineering experience.
• Experience leading teams through full aircraft development cycles.
• Proven ability to operate in fast-paced development environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the aerostructures design organization for the X‑BAT program.
• Drive development of lightweight, manufacturable aircraft structures.
• Support transition from development programs into scalable production.

Skills

Aerospace structural engineering

Leadership in advanced aircraft programs

Strong understanding of aircraft loads and stress analysis

Recruitment and development of engineering teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

Job description

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.

Our technology operates in complex, contested environments where GPS and communications may be denied, degraded, or unavailable.

We build the world’s best AI pilot and the aircraft that enable autonomy at scale. Engineers at Shield AI do not work in silos — they work shoulder‑to‑shoulder across disciplines to rapidly move from concept to flight‑ready systems deployed in the real world.

Job Description

The Sr Manager of Aerostructures Design for X‑BAT will lead the aerostructures design organization, drive development of lightweight, manufacturable, survivable aircraft structures, partner closely with cross‑functional teams, establish engineering processes, oversee development and validation, build and mentor a world‑class team, support transition to production, drive root‑cause analysis, and present technical reviews to executive leadership.

What you’ll do

• Lead the aerostructures design organization for the X‑BAT program.
• Drive development of lightweight, manufacturable, survivable aircraft structures optimized for autonomous combat aircraft operations.
• Partner closely with flight sciences, propulsion, avionics, manufacturing, autonomy, flight test, and supply chain teams to deliver integrated aircraft solutions.
• Establish engineering processes, design standards, configuration management, and structural development roadmaps across the program lifecycle.
• Oversee development and validation of composite and metallic airframe structures, including primary load‑bearing assemblies.
• Build and mentor a world‑class aerostructures engineering team capable of rapid execution and technical excellence.
• Support transition from development programs into scalable production environments.
• Drive root‑cause analysis and corrective action efforts for structural, manufacturing, and flight‑test findings.
• Present technical reviews, program risks, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and external stakeholders.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of aerospace structural engineering experience, including leadership responsibility on advanced aircraft programs.
• Deep expertise in aircraft primary structures, composites, metallic design, structural analysis, and integration.
• Experience leading teams through full aircraft development cycles from conceptual design through flight test and production.
• Strong understanding of aircraft loads, stress analysis, fatigue, durability, and structural substantiation methodologies.
• Experience collaborating across highly integrated aerospace development organizations.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and scale high‑performing engineering teams.
• Experience operating in fast‑paced development environments with aggressive technical schedules.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred qualifications

• Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience with autonomous aircraft, tactical aviation, unmanned systems, or defense aerospace platforms.
• Expertise in composite airframe manufacturing and high‑rate production methodologies.
• Background supporting low observable, survivability, or expeditionary aircraft design considerations.
• Familiarity with military airworthiness standards and defense acquisition environments.
• Experience supporting prototype‑to‑production transitions in venture‑backed or high‑growth aerospace organizations.

Compensation

$210,000 - $320,000 a year.

Full‑time regular employee offer package: Pay within the listed range + Bonus + Benefits + Equity.

Temporary employee offer package: Pay within the listed range + 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.