Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer (R5990)

Shield; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield seeks a highly skilled engineer to design and integrate avionics packaging and electro-mechanical systems for a next-generation autonomous aircraft. You will ensure structural integrity, thermal management, and EMI/EMC compliance while coordinating with electronics and mechanical teams.

The role requires extensive CAD experience, FEA/thermal analysis, and a track record of delivering ready-for-flight hardware in a fast-paced, aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 10+ years in mechanical and electrical aerospace design, including harness integration.
• Proficient in 3D CAD for system layout and drawings (NX/SW/CATIA).
• Experience with PCB constraints and circuit card development with PCB layout.
• Familiar with FEA, thermal analysis, fatigue/lifecycle testing.
• Able to work in fast-paced, agile development environment.

Responsibilities

• Design electro-mechanical avionics packaging and interconnects.
• Perform structural, thermal, and modal analyses for avionics.
• Ensure compliance with DO-160, DO-254, DO-178C, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461.
• Lead design from concept to reviews and flight test readiness.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering

CAD software

NX

SolidWorks

CATIA

Altium

Cadence

Allegro

Capital

Zuken

PCB constraints

FEA

Thermal analysis

Fatigue testing

Agile development

Education

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

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

CATIA

Altium

Cadence

Allegro

Capital

Zuken

Job description

Job Description

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 themechanical 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

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.