Senior Staff Aerostructures Design Engineer (RX) (R5846)

Shield; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 170,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a senior engineer to design and integrate the next generation UAV structures. The role requires ownership of the full structural lifecycle, from concept through drawings, with heavy use of FEA for validation under realistic loads.

You will collaborate across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing, mentor others, and drive design reviews and process improvements. Strong background in composites/metals, DFMA, GD&T, and a security clearance is highly valued.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
• 10+ years in aircraft structural design with ownership of components or systems.
• Deep knowledge of composites and metals, joints, and environmental effects.
• Experience with FEA for stress, fatigue, and design optimization.
• Proficient in DFMA, GD&T, tolerance stacks, and structural layouts.
• Strong written and verbal technical communication; cross-functional leadership.
• Ability to obtain S//SAR level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of structural components for next-gen UAVs.
• Own the structural design lifecycle: concept, CAD, detail, drawings.
• Apply FEA to guide analysis under operational loads and edge cases.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing.
• Lead material selection for composites, aluminum, and advanced manufacturing.
• Conduct design reviews and contribute to technical decision forums.
• Oversee structural validation testing from coupon to full-system.
• Develop documentation, analyses, interface definitions, verification plans.
• Mentor junior engineers and review team work for rigor.
• Coordinate with manufacturing and flight test to move designs to production.
• Identify process improvements to raise velocity and quality.

Skills

Structural design

Composite materials

Finite element analysis

Technical leadership

DFMA

Clear communication

Security-minded

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Abaqus

NASTRAN

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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated engineer to support the design, development, integration, and fielding of a next-generation autonomous aircraft system. This position requires a balance of technical rigor, rapid decision-making, and hands-on engineering to efficiently transition concepts into operational capability. The ideal candidate is comfortable solving complex problems, taking ownership, working within an accelerated aircraft development environment, and is motivated by getting meaningful capability into the hands of operators quickly.

What you'll do:

• Lead the design and development of structural components and assemblies for Shield AI’s next-gen UAV platform, with a focus on primary and secondary aircraft structures.
• Own the structural design lifecycle including concept generation, CAD modeling, detail design, and drawing release, ensuring high quality and traceability.
• Use FEA tools to perform and guide linear and nonlinear structural analysis, stress analysis, and margin assessment under operational loads and edge cases.
• Work closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless system integration across airframe and subsystem interfaces.
• Support and lead efforts in material selection, focusing on composites, aluminum alloys, and advanced manufacturing approaches suited to mission and environment.
• Participate in and lead design reviews, architecture discussions, and technical decision-making forums related to structural systems.
• Oversee the design and execution of structural validation testing, including coupon-level, subcomponent, and full-system testing.
• Guide the development of design documentation, analysis reports, interface definitions, and verification plans in compliance with MIL-STD, FAA, and internal Shield AI standards.
• Mentor junior engineers and review team members’ work for technical rigor, performance, and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with the manufacturing and flight test teams to transition designs from engineering to production and field deployment.
• Identify opportunities to improve design processes, configuration management, and team workflows for increased engineering velocity and design quality.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in aircraft structural design, with demonstrated ownership of components or systems in development, test, or production.
• Deep understanding of composite and metallic structures, including material behavior, joints, and thermal/environmental effects.
• Expertise in CAD tools (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) and FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar).
• Experience conducting or overseeing stress analysis, fatigue analysis, and design optimization.
• Strong working knowledge of DFMA, GD&T, tolerance stackups, and structural layout principles.
• Clear, concise technical communication skills and experience leading cross-functional engineering efforts.
• A track record of technical excellence, high ownership, and a mission-driven mindset in challenging engineering environments.
• Ability to get a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Preferred qualifications:

• M.S. degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong NX CAD skills
• Experience supporting or leading Group 3–5 UAV, DoD aircraft, or high-performance aerospace vehicle programs.
• Knowledge of aerospace standards (MIL-STD, ASME Y14.5, FAA FARS) and certification pathways.
• Prior experience in flight vehicle integration, manufacturing liaison, or production support.
• Familiarity with model-based engineering, digital twin development, or configuration management tools.
• Demonstrated experience in failure analysis, design iteration, and test correlation.
• Previous work in startup, R&D, or high-growth defense environments where agility and innovation are key.

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.

170000 - 260000 USD a year