Staff UAV Aerostructures Design Engineer

Shield AI; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a Staff Aerostructures Design Engineer to design and release high‑performance structural components for next‑gen autonomous aircraft. You will own design stages from concept through production release and ensure structural integrity across airframe interfaces.

You’ll collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing, performing hand calculations and supporting testing to meet aerospace standards. Strong communication and ownership are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in aircraft structural design or related aerospace structures.
• Experience designing and releasing structural components in development or production environments.
• Knowledge of composite and metallic structures, including 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.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop structural components and assemblies for Shield AI’s UAV platform.
• Lead design lifecycle from concept to drawing release.
• Perform hand calculations for stress or strain with limited guidance on FEA.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing for integration.
• Support structural validation with coupon, subcomponent, and system tests.
• Produce design documentation, drawings, interfaces, and reports per aerospace standards.
• Partner with manufacturing and flight test to resolve build issues.
• Present work in design reviews and incorporate feedback.
• Improve structural layout, joints, tolerancing, and optimization.

Skills

Aerospace structural design

CAD (NX/CATIA/SolidWorks)

GD&T & tolerancing

Composite & metallic structures

Load paths & fasteners

DFMA

Technical communication

System integration collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

Job description

Shield AI seeks a Staff Aerostructures Design Engineer to design and release high‑performance structural components for next‑gen autonomous aircraft. You will own design stages from concept through production release and ensure structural integrity across airframe interfaces.

You’ll collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing, performing hand calculations and supporting testing to meet aerospace standards. Strong communication and ownership are essential.