Senior UAV Structures Engineer

Shieldai; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI seeks an experienced aerospace structural engineer to design and release structural components for its next-generation UAV platform. You will perform CAD modeling, hand calculations, and collaborate across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing to ensure robust system integration.

The role requires 5+ years in aircraft structures, familiarity with composites and metals, and CAD tools like NX/CATIA/SolidWorks.

Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years in aircraft structural design or related aerospace structures.
• Experience releasing structural components in development or production.
• Knowledge of composite and metallic structures with fasteners and bonded joints.
• Proficient in CAD tools: NX, CATIA, SolidWorks (or similar).
• Understanding of GD&T, tolerance stackups, and DFMA.
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
• Ability to obtain S//SAR level security clearance.
• Experience with UAV, DoD, or aerospace vehicle programs.
• Exposure to composite design and manufacturing methods.
• Experience using FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN) for linear analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop structural components for UAV platforms.
• Conduct conceptual, CAD modeling, detailed design, and drawing release.
• Perform hand calculations with limited FEA guidance.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams.
• Support structural validation: coupon testing, subcomponent testing, system verification.
• Generate design docs, drawings, interfaces, and analysis reports.
• Work with manufacturing and flight test to resolve build issues.
• Participate in design reviews and present work clearly.
• Continuously improve structural layout, joints, tolerancing, and optimization.

Skills

Aerospace structural design

GD&T & DFMA

Technical communication

Fast-paced engineering

FEA experience

Education

Bachelors or Masters in Mechanical/Aerospace Eng

MS in Aerospace or Mechanical Eng

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Abaqus

NASTRAN

Job description

Shield AI seeks an experienced aerospace structural engineer to design and release structural components for its next-generation UAV platform. You will perform CAD modeling, hand calculations, and collaborate across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing to ensure robust system integration.

The role requires 5+ years in aircraft structures, familiarity with composites and metals, and CAD tools like NX/CATIA/SolidWorks.