Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer (R5990)

Shield; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 208,000 - 312,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield is seeking a highly motivated engineer to support the design, development, integration, and fielding of a next-generation autonomous aircraft system in Seattle, WA. You will balance technical rigor, rapid decision-making, and hands-on engineering to transition concepts into operational capability.

The ideal candidate thrives in an accelerated aircraft development environment, takes ownership of complex electronics and mechanical interfaces, and works with electrical engineers to define

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 10+ years in mechanical and electrical aerospace design.
• Experience with harness integration and avionics packaging.
• CAD for 3D modeling and drawings knowledge.
• Familiar with DO-160, DO-254, DO-178C, MIL-STD-810/461.
• Experience with FEA and thermal analyses.
• Able to work in agile development environments.

Responsibilities

• Design complex electro-mechanical avionics packaging and interconnects.
• Perform structural and thermal analyses for avionics.
• Ensure compliance with DO-160/178C and MIL-STD standards.
• Own design from concept through flight test readiness.

Skills

Mechanical design

Aerospace design

Agile development

Problem solving

Education

B.S./M.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX/SolidWorks/CATIA

Altium/Cadence/Allegro

Capital/Zuken

PCB layout process

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

• Design complex electro-mechanical solutions for avionics packaging, electrical interconnects, thermal management, and aircraft integration.
• Perform structural, preliminary thermal, and modal analyses for avionics to ensure survivability in harsh environments.
• Ensure avionics meet performance, safety, environmental, and EMI/EMC compliance standards, including DO-160, DO-254, DO-178C, MIL-STD-810, and MIL-STD-461.
• Own your design work from concept to reviews through system validation, failure analysis, and flight test readiness.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. and/or MS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical & electrical equipment design for aerospace, including harness integration and mechanical component design.
• Expertise in CAD software (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar) for 3D modeling, drawing creation, and system layout.
• Familiarity with eCAD software (Altium, Cadence, Allegro), and harness design software (Capital, Zuken).
• Experience working with electrical engineers to define PCB constraints, develop circuit cards, and care for all the mechanical interfaces.
• Familiarity with the PCB layout process and advanced manufacturing methods.
• 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.

$208,000 - $312,000 a year

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.