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Shield AI, a venture-backed defense-tech company, is seeking a Senior Staff Structural Analyst to provide advanced technical leadership in the structural analysis and validation of next-generation UAV platforms. You will serve as a senior subject-matter expert for airframe structures, leading complex analysis efforts, supporting test correlation, and ensuring structural integrity across development, flight test, and production.
In this role, you will lead structural analysis efforts for UAV airframes, major substructures, and critical components within a program scope. You will define and execute finite element modeling approaches, load cases, assumptions, and margin assessments. You will perform and oversee static, modal, fatigue, vibration, and damage-tolerance analyses, and establish sound practices for hand calculations, model validation, and analysis-to-test correlation.
You will drive structural optimization across performance, weight, cost, and manufacturability targets, and support structural test strategy by defining requirements, participating in execution, and correlating results to analysis. You will review structural analysis deliverables, test reports, and technical documentation for design reviews. A key responsibility is mentoring and technically guiding structural analysts across varying experience levels.
You will partner cross-functionally with design, loads, aero, propulsion, and systems teams to balance structural requirements with overall aircraft performance goals, and contribute to evolving analysis methodologies and improving structural standards within the organization.
Shield AI's products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. The company has offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
REQUIREMENTS:
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in structural analysis, aircraft structures, or aerospace systems
- Strong expertise with FEA tools (ANSYS, NASTRAN, HyperWorks, or similar)
- Advanced proficiency in hand calculations for strength, stability, fatigue, and damage tolerance
- Significant experience with composite and lightweight aerospace structures
- Experience supporting structural testing, model correlation, and flight test validation
- Ability to lead complex technical workstreams and influence design decisions within a program
- Strong communication skills and experience presenting analysis findings to engineering leadership
- Ability to obtain S//SAR level security clearance (desired)
PREFERRED:
- Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- Experience serving as a senior technical lead on aircraft or UAV structural programs
- Hands-on involvement in flight test support and certification efforts
- Experience contributing to internal analysis standards or best practices
- Familiarity with CAD, PLM, and enterprise engineering toolchains
