Senior UAV Structural Analysis Lead

Shieldai; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Structural Analyst to provide advanced technical leadership in the structural analysis and validation of UAV platforms. In this role, you will serve as a senior subject‑matter expert for airframe structures, leading complex analysis efforts, supporting test correlation, and ensuring structural integrity across development, flight test, and production.

This role targets engineers with 12–15+ years of experience who have led major structural workstreams on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 10+ years of structural analysis experience in aerospace.
• Experience with FEA tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, or HyperWorks.
• Hands-on with composite and lightweight aerospace structures.
• Ability to lead technical workstreams and influence design decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural analysis efforts for UAV airframes and major components.
• Define and execute FE modeling approaches, load cases, margins.
• Perform static, modal, fatigue, vibration, and damage-tolerance analyses.
• Mentor analysts and guide cross-functional teams on analysis methodology.
• Partner with design, loads, aero, propulsion, and systems teams to balance structural goals.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

NASTRAN

HyperWorks

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Structural Analyst to provide advanced technical leadership in the structural analysis and validation of UAV platforms. In this role, you will serve as a senior subject‑matter expert for airframe structures, leading complex analysis efforts, supporting test correlation, and ensuring structural integrity across development, flight test, and production.

This role targets engineers with 12–15+ years of experience who have led major structural workstreams on