Mechanical Design Engineer - UAV Structures & Mechanisms

Shield; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI in Dallas, TX is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to help develop state-of-the-art autonomous UAV products. You will design and develop structural systems for launch and recovery, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure performance and manufacturability.

This role requires a BS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, 2+ years of design experience, strong CAD (NX preferred) and basic FEA skills.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 2+ years in mechanical or mechanism design for ground vehicles.
• Strong CAD skills; NX preferred.
• Structural analysis using hand calculations and FEM.
• Understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups.
• Materials selection of alloys, heat treatments, and finishes.
• Ability to work independently in fast-paced, cross-functional teams.
• Ability to obtain a S//SAR security clearance (desired).

Responsibilities

• Support the design of complex structures for autonomous aircraft launch and recovery.
• Contribute to full design process: concept, CAD, tolerancing, material selection, drawing release.
• Perform structural and kinematic calculations and preliminary FEA.
• Prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs for reliability.
• Collaborate with electrical, avionics, flight controls, manufacturing, and test teams.
• Support pre-production builds and ground/flight testing toward production.
• Participate in design reviews and technical decision forums related to structural systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve design processes and team workflows.

Skills

Structural analysis

GD&T

Independent work

Collaboration

Education

B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX CAD

FEA basics

Hand calculations

Job description

Shield AI in Dallas, TX is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to help develop state-of-the-art autonomous UAV products. You will design and develop structural systems for launch and recovery, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure performance and manufacturability.

This role requires a BS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, 2+ years of design experience, strong CAD (NX preferred) and basic FEA skills.