Senior UAV Structural Design Engineer

Shield; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a hands-on Structural Engineer to design and release primary and secondary airframe structures for its next-generation UAV platform. You will work with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams, performing CAD modeling, hand calculations, and design reviews to ensure robust, lightweight structures.

You will develop documentation, interface definitions, and analysis reports while continuously improving structural layout, fasteners, tolerancing, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in aircraft structural design.
• Experience designing and releasing structural components in development or production.
• Working knowledge of composite and metallic structures, fasteners, bonded joints, and load paths.
• Proficiency in CAD tools (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar).
• Understanding of GD&T, tolerance stackups, and DFMA principles.
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
• Ability to operate in fast-paced, high-ownership engineering environments
• Ability to get a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop structural components and assemblies for UAV platform.
• Conduct full design lifecycle from conception to drawing release.
• Perform hand calculations for stress/strain with guidance from seniors.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams.
• Support structural validation including coupon and system-level testing.
• Generate design documentation, drawings, interfaces, and analyses.
• Partner with manufacturing and flight test teams to resolve issues.
• Participate in design reviews and present work clearly.
• Improve structural layout, joints, tolerancing, and optimization.

Skills

Aircraft structural design

Fast-paced eng env

Technical communication

S//SAR clearance eligible

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Eng

M.S. in Aerospace Eng

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

ANSYS/FEA

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a hands-on Structural Engineer to design and release primary and secondary airframe structures for its next-generation UAV platform. You will work with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams, performing CAD modeling, hand calculations, and design reviews to ensure robust, lightweight structures.

You will develop documentation, interface definitions, and analysis reports while continuously improving structural layout, fasteners, tolerancing, and