Staff Engineer, Mechanical (R5482)

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 <www.shield.ai>. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Job Description:

We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer who can lead complex hardware efforts from concept through deployment. This individual will own mechanical design while integrating electronics, RF systems, and composite structures into cohesive, field-ready platforms. You should be comfortable operating as a technical lead and driving cross-functional execution.

What you'll do

• Lead mechanical design and integration for airborne or ruggedized systems, from concept through production.
• Own system-level packaging of electronics, including radios, antennas, PCBAs, and harnessing.
• Design and integrate components into composite and metallic structures.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration across electrical, RF, manufacturing, and test teams.
• Serve as project lead on select programs, managing scope, schedule, and technical execution.
• Perform and guide analyses including structural, thermal, and environmental considerations.
• Create and review CAD models, drawings, and release packages for production.
• Support prototype builds, integration, and troubleshooting in lab and field environments.
• Ensure designs meet reliability, manufacturability, and performance requirements.
• Required qualifications;
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in mechanical design and product development.
• Strong experience with CAD (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, Creo).
• Proven ability to take products from concept to production.
• Experience working in cross-functional engineering environments.
• Demonstrated ownership of projects or subsystems with minimal oversight.

Preferred qualifications

Experience integrating electronics into mechanical systems, including

• Radios, antennas, and RF components.
• PCBAs and embedded electronics.
• Familiarity with wiring and cable systems, including coax, RF cables, and harness design (e.g., RG-series, RMA considerations).
• Experience designing for composite structures and hybrid assemblies (composite + metal).
• Understanding of thermal management for electronics (heat dissipation, airflow, conduction paths).
• Knowledge of grounding, shielding, and EMI/EMC considerations.
• Experience with ground support equipment (GSE) design or test infrastructure.
• Familiarity with environmental requirements (vibration, shock, temperature, ingress).
• Experience working closely with RF or electrical engineering teams on system integration.
• Hands-on build, integration, and troubleshooting experience.

Leadership expectations

• Act as a technical lead for projects or subsystems.
• Drive design reviews and decision-making.
• Mentor junior engineers and elevate team capability.
• Balance speed and rigor in a fast-paced development environment.