Staff Engineer, Mechanical Design - Launch and Recovery Systems (R4572)

Job details

Work model

On-site

Salary

$160,000 - $240,000

Location

Seattle, Washington; Dallas, Texas

Hiring context

How this role compares at Shield AI

Shield AI has 473 live roles in MeritLog’s catalog across 12 job families, and 327 of them are in engineering. 369 of those listings publish a pay range, a disclosure rate of 78%.

This role's posted range of $160,000 - $240,000 sits above 53% of the 349 other Shield AI roles quoted over the same currency and period.

Counted across the job boards MeritLog tracks, at the time this page was served. Pay comparisons use only listings that publish a complete range in the same currency and period.

What the role asks for

Parsed by MeritLog from the employer’s own posting. The full description follows below.

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.  Job Description: Shield AI is pioneering the development of AI-powered autonomous aircraft for national defense, pushing the boundaries of aerospace innovation. Our next gen UAS is a next-generation, high-endurance unmanned system designed for deployment in complex, contested environments.   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.   This position requires deep expertise in mechanical design, structural analysis, and aerospace ground systems. You will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations teams to develop innovative support solutions that enhance mission effectiveness and operational efficiency. What you'll do: • Design and develop mechanical systems for Ground Support Equipment (GSE), including power units, transport structures, launch & recovery systems, and maintenance tools. • Create detailed CAD models, drawings, and specifications for manufacturing and assembly. • Conduct structural, thermal, and fatigue analysis to ensure durability and reliability of GSE in field environments. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate GSE with aircraft systems and mission operations. • Perform trade studies and system optimization to enhance portability, ruggedness, and maintainability of support systems. • Oversee prototyping, testing, and validation of GSE designs to meet military and aviation standards. • Develop technical documentation, test procedures, and support manuals for field operations. • Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure cost-effective production and sustainment of GSE. • Support flight test campaigns by providing engineering support for ground systems and test operations. Required qualifications: • 7+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, ground support equipment, or heavy industrial systems. • Expertise in CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar) for 3D modeling, drawing creation, and system layout. • Strong background in structural analysis, material selection, and manufacturing processes for ruggedized systems. • Experience designing deployable, transportable, and field-ready aerospace support equipment. • Knowledge of MIL-STD design requirements for aerospace ground support systems. • Experience with finite element analysis (FEA), thermal analysis, and fatigue/lifecycle testing. • Ability to work in a fast-paced, agile development environment with evolving priorities. • Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired. Preferred qualifications: • Experience designing UAS or military aircraft ground support equipment. • Knowledge of power distribution, hydraulics, and environmental control systems for aerospace applications. • Experience with DoD acquisition, sustainment, and field deployment strategies. • Prior experience supporting military aircraft maintenance and sustainment operations. • Active Secret or Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one). Full-time regular employee offer package: Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity   Temporary employee offer package: Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)   Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.   ###   Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

• Senior AI EngineerMetropolis · Hybrid
• Senior Staff Software Engineer, AeroParkerMetropolis · Not provided by source
• Senior Software Engineer, Product FoundationsMetropolis · Hybrid
• Senior AI EngineerMetropolis · Hybrid
• Senior Central Cloud Infrastructure EngineerMetropolis · Hybrid
• Senior Software Engineer, Product FoundationsMetropolis · On-site