# Lead Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Test (X-BAT) **Company**: Shield AI **Location**: Seattle, Washington **Work arrangement**: onsite **Experience**: senior **Job type**: Full Time Employee **Salary**: USD 150,000-230,000 per-year-salary **Category**: Engineering **Industry**: Technology **Apply**: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/c6b86a5c-c646-43d2-b651-4656ea2f917e?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply **Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_512a4973-b39 ## Description Shield AI is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Test to lead the design and development of mechanical test infrastructure that enables rapid, rigorous validation of X-BAT hardware. This role will own the mechanical side of hardware testing, from concept through deployment, by building robust test stands, fixtures, and support equipment for engineering and production-level test activities. The ideal candidate is a strong technical leader who can manage a small team, establish sound engineering processes, and drive execution in a fast-paced hardware environment. ## Responsibilities - Lead a team of mechanical engineers in designing, building, and maintaining X-BAT hardware test stands and fixtures that support subsystem, integration, and qualification testing. - Perform core people-lead responsibilities, including work planning, technical direction, regular 1:1s, coaching, feedback, and performance development for the team. - Own requirements gathering, concept development, detailed design, and validation of multiple test stands used to evaluate X-BAT hardware and supporting subsystems. - Design fixtures, tooling, structural support hardware, and mechanical systems for engineering and production-level test applications. - Perform mechanical analyses such as hand calculations and FEA-informed assessments for strength, stiffness, thermal behavior, durability, and safety. - Define and apply industry-standard mechanical engineering practices, including GD&T, tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA, design reviews, release documentation, and configuration discipline. - Partner with test, electrical, avionics, manufacturing, and technician teams to integrate test hardware that is safe, repeatable, maintainable, and efficient to operate. - Support fabrication and build activities by working closely with internal shops and external vendors to release, procure, assemble, and iterate hardware quickly. - Drive troubleshooting and root-cause investigations when test hardware or units under test do not perform as expected and implement corrective design improvements. - Build team processes, documentation habits, and execution rhythms that improve quality, speed, and ownership across the hardware test function. ## Required qualifications - B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related STEM discipline; advanced degree is a plus. - Proven experience as a senior or lead mechanical engineer developing fixtures, tooling, or test stands for aerospace, defense, robotics, or other complex hardware systems. - Prior experience leading engineers and building high-performing teams, including mentoring, setting expectations, and driving accountability. - Strong mechanical design fundamentals with the ability to take concepts through analysis, detailed design, fabrication, assembly, and checkout. - Proficiency with industry-standard CAD tools such as NX, SolidWorks, or CATIA, and experience releasing drawings for manufacture. - Familiarity with standard ME practices, including tolerance stack-up, materials selection, fastener design, load path evaluation, and safe machine/fixture design. - Hands-on experience in lab, prototype, or production environments, with the judgment to balance analytical rigor and practical execution. - Excellent communication skills and the ability to work across disciplines to translate ambiguous test needs into robust mechanical solutions. - Demonstrated ownership, strong work ethic, and a track record of improving processes, raising the bar, and delivering results under schedule pressure. ## Preferred qualifications - Experience with propulsion or engine-related test equipment, high-load structural fixtures, or mechanically complex aerospace ground test systems. - Familiarity with environmental or qualification testing and the facility interfaces those systems require, such as mounting, cooling, plumbing, or instrumentation accommodations. - Experience using analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or Nastran to support test hardware design decisions. - Comfort working directly with technicians, machine shops, and test operators to refine designs and improve ease of use in the lab. - Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving development program where priorities evolve and rapid iteration is expected. ## Skills ### Required - Mechanical Engineering - CAD design - Fixture development - Test stand design - Mechanical analysis - Team leadership ### Nice to have - Propulsion test equipment - Environmental testing - Analysis tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, Nastran) - Machine shop collaboration --- Source: [Apply at jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/c6b86a5c-c646-43d2-b651-4656ea2f917e?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply)