About the role
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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: Are you a passionate and innovative product design engineer looking to help develop state-of-the-art AI and aircraft products? Are you eager to make a positive difference in the world? Do you want to work alongside mission driven and values focused teammates? Shield AI is just the place for you! As a Mechanical Designer/Drafter Engineer, you will be responsible for contributing to the design and development of Shield AI's autonomous UAV products. You will help architect new products, support the detailed design of complex structural systems for the launch and recovery vehicle and will use best in class design and analysis tools. You will collaborate closely with internal and/or external partners to prototype, test and release products to production. You will also help ensure product features achieve performance, schedule and reliability goals. You’ll work across disciplines to ensure structural integrity, manufacturability, and mission-readiness in one of the most advanced autonomous aircraft platforms being built today. This role is ideal for an mechanical engineer who thrives in fast-paced, high-ownership environments and is passionate about building systems that matter. \n
What you'll do: Support the design of complex structures for the autonomous aircraft launch and recovery system Support the full design process: concept, CAD, tolerance analysis, material selection, and drawing release Perform structural and kinematic calculations and preliminary FEA Prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs for functionality and reliability Collaborate with electrical, avionics, flight controls, manufacturing, and test teams Support pre-production builds, prototype integration, and ground/flight testing on the pathway to production and field deployment Participate in design reviews, architecture discussions, and technical decision-making forums related to structural systems. Identify opportunities to improve design processes, configuration management, and team workflows for increased engineering velocity and design quality. Required