Staff Engineer, Mechanical (R4887)

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-BAT aircraft, 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 . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description

Help design and deliver the mechanical systems that power advanced aerospace platforms from concept to real-world operation. In this role, you will own hardware development across the full product lifecycle—working hands-on in CAD, analysis, and testing—while collaborating with cross-functional teams to build reliable, high-performance systems. Operating in a fast-paced environment, you’ll turn complex challenges into practical solutions and play a key role in bringing mission-ready technology to life.

What you'll do

• Directly contribute to the design, analysis, and integration of mechanical systems and subsystems for V-BAT aircraft and ground support equipment, including payload integrations, avionics packaging, harnessing and connector selection, transport structures, and launch & recovery systems.
• Own mechanical engineering deliverables across the product lifecycle—from early concept and prototyping through test, production, and field support—with a bias toward execution and delivery.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Program Management, and Flight Operations to ensure designs are buildable, testable, and reliable in real-world environments.
• Provide hands-on technical support during ground and flight testing, demos, and field operations; rapidly troubleshoot and implement design fixes under tight timelines.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field from an accredited institution.
• 5-6 years of hands-on mechanical design experience in aerospace, ground support equipment, or related ruggedized hardware systems.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, or similar) with demonstrated ability to create detailed drawings, assemblies, and GD&T-compliant documentation
• Strong foundation in structural design, material selection, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience performing engineering calculations (stress, thermal, tolerance stack-up, fatigue, FEA as applicable) to validate design integrity
• Cross-functional collaboration experience with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management.

Preferred qualifications

• Root cause analysis and structured problem-solving capability to resolve mechanical failures.
• Familiarity with industry standards (ASME, ISO, ASTM, or industry-specific regulatory requirements).
• Familiarity with MIL-STD requirements and environmental qualification testing.
• Familiarity to power distribution, hydraulics, or aerospace support systems.
• Experience working with external suppliers or contract manufacturers.