Engineer I, Mechanical (R6302)

Shield AI Inc; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI in San Diego, CA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer on the Mechanisms team to design, develop, and integrate mechanical systems for autonomous aircraft. You will work on gearboxes, gears, shafts, housings, lubrication, and interfaces, with guidance from senior engineers.

You will create 3D CAD models, drawings, BOMs, perform sizing, tolerancing, and packaging, and participate in prototype testing and pre-production builds. Collaboration across teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent work experience).
• Fundamental mechanical engineering principles: statics, dynamics, materials, machine design.
• Experience using 3D CAD software.
• Ability to create or interpret engineering drawings.
• GD&T fundamentals understood.
• Ability to perform basic engineering calculations and document results.
• Hands-on hardware design and testing mindset.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Able to work with guidance in a fast-paced environment.
• Eligible for S//SAR level clearance desired.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and integration of mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraft, potentially including gearboxes and other power-transmission systems.
• Create and update 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and interface documentation.
• Complete defined design tasks involving component sizing, material selection, tolerance analysis, and mechanical packaging.
• Perform foundational structural, kinematic, and machine-design calculations with guidance from senior engineers.
• Assist with preliminary finite element analysis and document assumptions, methods, and results.
• Support the selection and integration of gears, bearings, shafts, splines, seals, fasteners, and lubrication components.
• Help build, inspect, test, and iterate prototype hardware for functionality, performance, and reliability.
• Support pre-production builds, aircraft integration, and ground and flight testing.
• Investigate well-defined technical issues, document findings, and contribute to root-cause and corrective-action activities.
• Collaborate with mechanical, propulsion, electrical, avionics, flight-controls, manufacturing, and test teams.
• Follow established engineering, configuration-management, and product-release processes.
• Develop plans for assigned tasks, communicate progress and risks, and incorporate feedback from teammates.

Skills

Statics

Dynamics

Mechanics of materials

Materials science

Machine design

3D CAD

GD&T fundamentals

Engineering calculations

Documentation

Collaboration

S//SAR clearance

Education

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

Equivalent work experience

Tools

NX

Job description

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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. 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 Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

Are you a curious and motivated engineer looking to help develop state-of-the-art autonomous aircraft? Are you eager to apply your engineering fundamentals to real hardware while learning from experienced teammates? Do you want to work alongside mission-driven and values-focused people? Shield AI may be the place for you.

As a Mechanical Engineer on the Mechanisms team, you will contribute to the design, development, and integration of mechanical systems for Shield AI’s autonomous aircraft. Your work may include a focus on gearbox development and integration, including gears, shafts, bearings, housings, lubrication systems, and related interfaces.

You will complete well-defined engineering tasks with guidance from experienced engineers and collaborate with internal and external partners to design, prototype, test, and release hardware. This role offers the opportunity to build practical experience across the product-development lifecycle while helping the team achieve its performance, schedule, and reliability goals.

What you’ll do:

• Support the design and integration of mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraft, potentially including gearboxes and other power-transmission systems
• Create and update 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and interface documentation
• Complete defined design tasks involving component sizing, material selection, tolerance analysis, and mechanical packaging
• Perform foundational structural, kinematic, and machine-design calculations with guidance from senior engineers
• Assist with preliminary finite element analysis and document assumptions, methods, and results
• Support the selection and integration of gears, bearings, shafts, splines, seals, fasteners, and lubrication components
• Help build, inspect, test, and iterate prototype hardware for functionality, performance, and reliability
• Support pre-production builds, aircraft integration, and ground and flight testing
• Investigate well-defined technical issues, document findings, and contribute to root-cause and corrective-action activities
• Collaborate with mechanical, propulsion, electrical, avionics, flight‑controls, manufacturing, and test teams
• Follow established engineering, configuration‑management, and product‑release processes
• Develop plans for assigned tasks, communicate progress and risks, and incorporate feedback from teammates

Required qualifications:

• 0-1 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent work experience
• Understanding of fundamental mechanical engineering principles, including statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, materials science, and machine design
• Academic, internship, student‑team, research, or project experience using 3D CAD software
• Ability to create or interpret basic engineering drawings
• Familiarity with dimensional tolerancing and GD&T fundamentals
• Ability to perform foundational engineering calculations and clearly document assumptions and results
• Hands‑on interest in designing, building, integrating, or testing mechanical hardware
• Strong problem‑solving, organization, documentation, and communication skills
• Ability to complete well‑defined engineering tasks with guidance from peers and managers
• Ability to collaborate effectively, accept feedback, and work in a fast‑paced environment with evolving priorities
• A demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to others
• Ability to obtain an S//SAR‑level security clearance is desired

Preferred qualifications:

• Internship, student‑team, research, or project experience involving aircraft, UAVs, robotics, automotive systems, or other mechanical products
• Coursework or project experience related to gearboxes, gearing, bearings, shafts, splines, seals, lubrication, or rotating machinery
• Familiarity with gear geometry, gear‑train calculations, bearing selection, or mechanical power transmission
• Experience with NX or a similar production CAD platform
• Exposure to tolerance stack‑ups, mechanical fits, and GD&T application
• Exposure to finite element analysis, including static, modal, buckling, or fatigue analysis
• Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, or other engineering analysis tools
• Hands‑on machine‑shop, mechanic, fabrication, assembly, or inspection experience through professional, academic, or hobby activities
• Exposure to FMEA, design of experiments, root‑cause analysis, or reliability testing
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing, machining, casting, forging, or other mechanical manufacturing processes
• Exposure to RTCA DO-160, MIL-STD-810, structural testing, vibration testing, or mechanism testing
• Ability to thrive in startup, R&D, or defense‑innovation environments

$81,000 – $140,000 a year

San Diego, CA pay range: $81,000 – $120,000

Seattle, WA pay range: $98,000 – 140,000

LI-MS1

LA

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. 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.