Staff Aerostructures Design Engineer - Flight UAV

Shield AI; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Aerostructures Design Engineer to advance the structural components for its next‑generation autonomous aircraft. You will design from concept through production release, ensuring integrity, manufacturability and system integration across airframe interfaces.

Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics and manufacturing teams, performing hand calculations and limited FEA with guidance while contributing to design reviews and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 8+ years of experience in aircraft structural design.
• Experience releasing structural components in development or production.
• Knowledge of composite and metallic structures, fasteners, bonded joints, and load paths.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks) and GD&T.
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
• Ability to operate in fast-paced, high-ownership environments.
• Eligibility to obtain S//SAR security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop structural components and assemblies for Shield AI’s UAV platform.
• Lead the design lifecycle from concept to drawing release.
• Perform hand calculations and limited FEA with guidance.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams.
• Support structural validation through coupon and subcomponent testing.
• Create design docs, drawings, interface definitions, and analysis reports.
• Partner with manufacturing and flight test to resolve build issues.
• Participate in design reviews and present work clearly.
• Advance structural depth in layout, joints, tolerancing, and optimization.

Skills

Structural design

Technical communication

Fast-paced environment

Security clearance readiness

Education

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

Tools

NX / CATIA / SolidWorks

ANSYS / Abaqus / NASTRAN

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Aerostructures Design Engineer to advance the structural components for its next‑generation autonomous aircraft. You will design from concept through production release, ensuring integrity, manufacturability and system integration across airframe interfaces.

Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics and manufacturing teams, performing hand calculations and limited FEA with guidance while contributing to design reviews and documentation.