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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company developing autonomous systems, unmanned aircraft, and simulation technologies for military and defense applications. As a Staff Engineer (L4) for Actuated Systems, you will own the mechanical design, layout, and integration of actuation systems for flight control surfaces, bay doors, and airframe mechanisms on a Group 5 UAV fighter aircraft.
You will drive hands-on technical ownership across the full lifecycle: developing system layouts and installation concepts for actuators, mechanisms, linkages, and brackets within vehicle packaging constraints; owning detailed CAD design from concept through drawing release with attention to load paths, materials, GD&T, and tolerance stack-ups; performing actuator sizing, kinematic layout, and installation analysis; conducting hand calculations and basic FEA to substantiate mechanical hardware; defining and resolving interfaces with structures, electrical, thermal, and adjacent systems; developing CAD models, drawings, and design data packages to program standards for SRR, PDR, and CDR reviews; supporting component selection, supplier technical execution, prototype assembly, and test-fixture development; and defining and executing qualification test plans per MIL-STD-810 to mature designs into production-ready hardware supporting MIL-HDBK-516 airworthiness certification.
This role requires balancing technical rigor with rapid decision-making in an accelerated aircraft development environment. You will work hands-on with engineering teams to transition concepts into operational capability, solving complex problems and taking ownership of deliverables under tight timelines.
REQUIREMENTS:
- US Citizenship required; must have an Active Secret clearance or higher
- 7–12 years of mechanical systems design experience in aerospace or comparable regulated industry, with hands-on experience designing actuated mechanisms or aircraft installations
- B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline
- Deep mastery of mechanical design fundamentals: kinematics, load paths, materials selection, GD&T, and tolerance stack-up methodologies
- Demonstrated capability performing closed-form hand calculations and basic FEA for mechanisms, brackets, mounts, and structural installation components
- Extensive experience in 3D CAD modeling, mechanical layouts, and drawing release using Siemens NX, CATIA, Creo, or equivalent PLM workflows
- Demonstrated ability to develop actuator and mechanism installations satisfying packaging, load, clearance, maintainability, and vehicle-interface requirements
- Proven track record sourcing COTS and custom aerospace components, driving suppliers to schedule, and assembling benchtop or vehicle-level test setups
- Demonstrated ability to self-direct, prioritize technical tasks without oversight, and deliver functional hardware under tight timelines
PREFERRED:
- Aircraft flight control actuation, weapons bay door, landing gear, or deployable-mechanism design experience
- Experience with electro-mechanical or electro-hydrostatic actuation systems
- Familiarity with MIL-HDBK-516, MIL-STD-810, and airworthiness verification planning for mechanical systems
- Hands-on machine shop, fabrication, mechanical assembly, or prototype-build experience in rapid R&D environment
