Staff Manufacturing Engineer, Automation Equipment

Shield; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI, based in Seattle, seeks a Staff Manufacturing Engineer to design and deploy production automation for advanced manufacturing. You will own the technical scope from concept through ramp and handoff, coordinating with mechanical, electrical, and controls teams to optimize OEE and throughput.

The role requires strong CAD skills and hands-on leadership of complex automation projects, with a track record of improving quality and lifecycle performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years designing, developing, integrating, or commissioning industrial automation equipment.
• Strong mechanical design experience with machinery, tooling, fixtures, GD&T, tolerance analysis, servo mechanisms, pneumatics, hydraulics, guarding, and machine safety.
• Working knowledge of Siemens PLCs, HMIs, FANUC robots, PROFINET and PROFIsafe, machine vision, servo systems, and manufacturing-data interfaces.
• Proficiency with Siemens NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar CAD tools and the ability to review electrical and controls documentation.
• Experience leading system integrators and complex automation projects from concept through production handoff while managing technical scope, schedule, risk, and supplier performance.
• Working knowledge of applicable OSHA, NFPA, UL, ANSI, and ISO Standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop analytical models for takt time, cycle time, OEE, capacity, buffers, labor, utilities, reliability, and overall automation-system performance.
• Research and qualify advanced automation technologies that improve manufacturability, process capability, throughput, safety, and maintainability.
• Lead process definition, concept development, and detailed engineering design for automation cells, tooling, fixtures, robot end effectors, motion systems, material handling, guarding, and service access.
• Develop RFQs, equipment and functional specifications, interface requirements, procedures, verification plans, and FAT/SAT acceptance protocols.
• Define integrated mechanical, electrical, controls, robot, vision, servo-motion, recipe, traceability, fault-recovery, and Digital Factory interface requirements.
• Own automation projects from design reviews through risk-mitigation planning, build, debug, installation, commissioning, ramp, and production handoff.
• Execute PFMEA, control-plan development, MSA, capability studies, fault-recovery testing, FAT, SAT, and rate demonstrations.
• Troubleshoot equipment and process failures, implement corrective actions, and improve quality, availability, MTBF, MTTR, and lifecycle support.

Skills

Mechanical design

System integration

Project leadership

GD&T

Servo mechanisms

Machinery safety

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Mechatronics or related engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Siemens PLCs

FANUC robots

PROFINET/PROFIsafe

Machine vision

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BATaircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

We are seeking a Staff Manufacturing Engineer to lead the design and implementation of production automation equipment for advanced manufacturing. This engineer will own the technical scope from process definition and analytical sizing through concept development, detailed design, system integration, FAT, installation, SAT, production ramp, and handoff.

What you’ll do:

• Develop analytical models for takt time, cycle time, OEE, capacity, buffers, labor, utilities, reliability, and overall automation-system performance.

• Research and qualify advanced automation technologies that improve manufacturability, process capability, throughput, safety, and maintainability.

• Lead process definition, concept development, and detailed engineering design for automation cells, tooling, fixtures, robot end effectors, motion systems, material handling, guarding, and service access.

• Develop RFQs, equipment and functional specifications, interface requirements, procedures, verification plans, and FAT/SAT acceptance protocols.

• Define integrated mechanical, electrical, controls, robot, vision, servo-motion, recipe, traceability, fault-recovery, and Digital Factory interface requirements.

• Own automation projects from design reviews through risk-mitigation planning, build, debug, installation, commissioning, ramp, and production handoff.

• Execute PFMEA, control-plan development, MSA, capability studies, fault-recovery testing, FAT, SAT, and rate demonstrations.

• Troubleshoot equipment and process failures, implement corrective actions, and improve quality, availability, MTBF, MTTR, and lifecycle support.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline.

• 10+ years designing, developing, integrating, or commissioning industrial automation equipment.

• Strong mechanical design experience with machinery, tooling, fixtures, GD&T, tolerance analysis, servo mechanisms, pneumatics, hydraulics, guarding, and machine safety.

• Working knowledge of Siemens PLCs, HMIs, FANUC robots, PROFINET and PROFIsafe, machine vision, servo systems, and manufacturing-data interfaces.

• Proficiency with Siemens NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar CAD tools and the ability to review electrical and controls documentation.

• Experience leading system integrators and complex automation projects from concept through production handoff while managing technical scope, schedule, risk, and supplier performance.

• Working knowledge of applicable OSHA, NFPA, UL, ANSI, and ISO Standards.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with automated electromechanical assembly, servo-press, calibration, functional-test, hydraulic-test, or endurance-test systems.

• Experience with automated cutting, forming, welding, cleaning, leak-test, or pressure-test equipment.

• Experience with robotic coating, mixing and dispensing, cure-control, or inspection systems.

• Experience with automated drilling, fastening, sealant dispensing, metrology, or large-assembly handling,

• Experience with Digital Factory interfaces, serialized genealogy, and equipment-data integration.

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Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed toequal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.