Staff Actuated Systems Engineer, Aerospace

F7d8749a; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI in Seattle is seeking a Staff (L4) Actuated Systems Engineer to own mechanical design and integration of actuators for flight control surfaces and airframe mechanisms on a Group 5 UAV fighter aircraft. You will apply first-principles engineering to develop installable actuator layouts and drive detailed hardware design through release, test, and vehicle integration.

The ideal candidate has 5–12 years of aerospace mechanical design experience, strong CAD skills (NX/CATIA/Creo), and a

Qualifications

• 5 to 12 years of mechanical systems design experience in aerospace or regulated industries.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering or a related field.
• Deep mastery of mechanical design, kinematics, load paths, materials selection, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
• Closed-form hand calculations and basic FEA for mechanisms and installation components.
• Extensive 3D CAD modeling and drawing release using NX, CATIA, or Creo.
• Ability to source components and manage supplier execution, with rigid packaging/clearance requirements.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and deliver hardware under tight timelines.
• Eligibility for security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and mature actuator layouts and installation concepts within vehicle packaging constraints.
• Own CAD design of actuation hardware from concept to drawing release, including load paths and tolerances.
• Perform actuator sizing, kinematic layout, and installation analysis for flight surfaces and airframe mechanisms.
• Conduct hand calculations and basic FEA to validate brackets, mounts, and hardware.
• Define installation interfaces with structures, EWIS, EPS, and thermal management, ensuring maintainability.
• Create and maintain CAD models, drawings, interface definitions, and design data for SRR, PDR, and CDR.
• Support component selection, supplier execution, prototype assembly, and test fixtures.
• Define qualification test plans per MIL-STD-810 and support MIL-HDBK-516 airworthiness processes.

Skills

Mechanical design

Kinematics

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

Load paths

CAD modeling

Self-direction

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

M.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

CATIA

Creo

Job description

Shield AI in Seattle is seeking a Staff (L4) Actuated Systems Engineer to own mechanical design and integration of actuators for flight control surfaces and airframe mechanisms on a Group 5 UAV fighter aircraft. You will apply first-principles engineering to develop installable actuator layouts and drive detailed hardware design through release, test, and vehicle integration.

The ideal candidate has 5–12 years of aerospace mechanical design experience, strong CAD skills (NX/CATIA/Creo), and a