Director, Avionics Mechanical Engineering

Shield AI is looking for a Director of Avionics Mechanical Engineering to build and lead the organization responsible for all mechanical, thermal, and harnessing (EWIS) design for the X-BAT aircraft and ground equipment.

You'll set the technical strategy and organizational structure, develop managers and technical leads, and be accountable for delivering flight-critical electro-mechanical hardware from concept through production.

As a senior member of the avionics leadership team, you'll partner with engineering, program, and operations leaders to shape architecture, schedule, and resourcing decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical vision, strategy, and roadmap for mechanical, thermal, and EWIS engineering across X-BAT flight and ground avionics
• Build and scale a multi-team organization: hire and develop managers and technical leads, define org structure, and plan headcount to meet near- and long-term program goals
• Be accountable for your organization's delivery of complex electro-mechanical hardware that survives harsh environments, from architecture through qualification and production
• Set engineering standards, design review practices, and processes for thermal, mechanical, and harness design of flight-critical avionics
• Serve as the final technical authority on key mechanical and thermal architecture tradeoffs, and escalate risk to program leadership with clear recommendations
• Partner with electrical engineering, RF, PCB design, reliability, structures, supply chain, and manufacturing leaders to drive full-scope product delivery
• Own organizational planning inputs, including resourcing, schedule commitments, supplier and contract manufacturer strategy, and make-vs-buy decisions
• Build a culture of extreme ownership, technical rigor, and accountability

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 15+ years of experience in mechanical design around electronics and electrical systems, including significant early-career, hands-on design of enclosures, thermal solutions, and harness integration
• 5+ years of people leadership, including managing managers or leading multiple engineering teams
• Proven record of building and scaling engineering teams through rapid growth
• Record of delivering complex avionics or electro-mechanical hardware from concept through production
• Deep technical fluency in avionics packaging, FEA, thermal analysis, and fatigue and lifecycle testing
• Experience setting engineering strategy, standards, and processes across an organization
• Experience managing relationships with fabrication shops, contract manufacturers, and key suppliers
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, agile environment with shifting priorities
• A demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to others
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance