Shield AI

Staff Engineer, Mechanical Design - Launch and Recovery Systems

Shield AI
onsite staff full-time $136,730 - $205,096 a year Dallas
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First indexed 17 Apr 2026

Description

Shield AI is pioneering the development of AI-powered autonomous aircraft for national defence. We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and testing of Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for our next-gen UAS.

This role is instrumental in creating robust, field-deployable support systems that enable aircraft operations, maintenance, and sustainment in military environments.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Designing and developing mechanical systems for GSE, including power units, transport structures, launch & recovery systems, and maintenance tools.
  • Creating detailed CAD models, drawings, and specifications for manufacturing and assembly.
  • Conducting structural, thermal, and fatigue analysis to ensure durability and reliability of GSE in field environments.
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate GSE with aircraft systems and mission operations.
  • Performing trade studies and system optimization to enhance portability, ruggedness, and maintainability of support systems.
  • Overseeing prototyping, testing, and validation of GSE designs to meet military and aviation standards.
  • Developing technical documentation, test procedures, and support manuals for field operations.
  • Working with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure cost-effective production and sustainment of GSE.

Required qualifications include 7+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, ground support equipment, or heavy industrial systems, expertise in CAD software, strong background in structural analysis, material selection, and manufacturing processes for ruggedized systems, and experience designing deployable, transportable, and field-ready aerospace support equipment.

Preferred qualifications include experience designing UAS or military aircraft ground support equipment, knowledge of power distribution, hydraulics, and environmental control systems for aerospace applications, and prior experience supporting military aircraft maintenance and sustainment operations.

This listing is enriched and indexed by YubHub. To apply, use the employer's original posting: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/a3dfba6d-09ec-42c3-9328-dbb2b5fbdab3