Jobs › Companies › Shieldai › Staff Engineer, Aircraft Configuration Design - Ranger (R6298)

About this Staff Engineer, Aircraft Configuration Design - Ranger (R6298) role at Shieldai

Shieldai · Onsite · Seattle, Washington
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 seeking an Aircraft Configuration Design Engineer to support the development of next-generation autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs'). In this role, you will assist in the design, optimization, and integration of aircraft configurations, ensuring that vehicle aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and mission systems are harmonized for performance, manufacturability, and operational effectiveness.

This position is ideal for a mechanical or aerospace engineer with a passion for cutting edge aircraft design, multi-disciplinary systems integration, and iterative prototyping in a fast-paced defense technology environment.

What you'll do:

  • Assist in the conceptual and preliminary design of Shield AI’s newest UAV platforms, ensuring optimal aerodynamic and structural configurations.
  • Support aircraft sizing, weight estimation, and trade studies to evaluate different airframe configurations.
  • Work with multi-disciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, propulsion, avionics) to ensure seamless system integration.
  • Develop and refine 3D CAD models of aircraft structures, subsystems, and flight critical components.
  • Perform basic aerodynamic and structural analysis using computational tools to assess feasibility and performance impacts.
  • Participate in design reviews, system trade studies, and prototype development efforts.
  • Support rapid prototyping and wind tunnel testing of scaled models to validate design concepts.
  • Assist in requirements development, documentation, and verification planning for aircraft subsystems.
  • Ensure designs comply with manufacturing feasibility, mission requirements, and aerospace industry standards.
  • Work closely with manufacturing and production teams to transition designs from concept to prototype and full-scale production.
  • Required qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field).
  • Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related experience in aircraft design, configuration layout, or airframe integration.
  • Proficiency in CAD modeling (NX, SolidWorks, or similar) for airframe and structural design.
  • Basic understanding of aircraft aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion system integration.
  • Ability to perform basic FEA, CFD, or weight & balance assessments.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in cross functional teams.
  • Excellent communication and technical documentation skills.
  • Active Secret clearance  
  • Preferred qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field).
  • Experience with UAV design or aircraft conceptual design.
  • Familiarity with aircraft performance modeling, stability & control, and flight dynamics.
  • Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping, wind tunnel testing, or flight hardware development.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing techniques, composite materials, and aerospace structural design principles.
  • Experience working in a fast-paced, high-tech startup or defense environment.
  • Active TS clearance or ability to gain a TS clearance.  

  • #LI-AD6
    #LD

    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. 
    Ready to apply to Shieldai?
    Apply to Shieldai

    Similar jobs

    Shieldai
    Senior Staff Engineer, Structural Analysis - Ranger (R6300)
    Shieldai
    ⚡ Apply early Seattle, Washington Onsite
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 2h ago
    Shieldai
    Staff Engineer, Fuel Systems - Ranger (R6299)
    Shieldai
    ⚡ Apply early Seattle, Washington Onsite
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 2h ago
    Shieldai
    Senior Staff Engineer, LRV Systems (R6242)
    Shieldai
    ⚡ Apply early Seattle, Washington Onsite $170,000–$260,000
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 3h ago
    AX
    Staff Software Engineer
    Axon
    ⚡ Apply early Seattle, Washington, United St... Hybrid $168,750–$270,000
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 15h ago
    General Motors
    Staff Systems Engineer - AV Architecture
    General Motors
    ⚡ Apply early Sunnyvale, California, United... Onsite $160,200–$290,700
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 2d ago
    Cloudflare
    Staff/Principal Software Engineer - Security Platform
    Cloudflare
    ⚡ Apply early Distributed Onsite $220,000–$303,000
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 3d ago
    General Motors
    Staff Software Engineer for NextGen In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems - DevOps
    General Motors
    ⚡ Apply early Mountain View, California, Uni... Onsite $189,300–$290,700
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 3d ago
    SciTec
    Staff / Sr Staff Test Automation Engineer
    SciTec
    ⚡ Apply early Boulder, Colorado, United Stat... Onsite $102,000–$157,000
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 19m ago
    Skylight
    Principal or Staff Product Security Engineer
    Skylight
    ⚡ Apply early United States · location restricted $200,000–$250,000
    ● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 57m ago

    Sign up for suggestions tailored to the jobs you open and the searches you save.

    More jobs at Shieldai

    See all jobs at Shieldai →

    Apply now
    🤖

    Whoa — hold up

    JobsRadar was built for real people having a rough time in their job search — not for automated requests. You're clicking way too fast and you're now temporarily blocked.

    Come back later. If you're genuinely job hunting, we've got your back — just act like a human.

    Catch your next role the second it’s posted.

    Create a free account and we’ll watch the boards for you — the instant a job matches your search, it lands in your inbox or Telegram. No digging, no refreshing.

    Create free account

    Free forever · takes 30 seconds · already have one?

    Get an edge on your job hunt.

    Join our Telegram channel for the stuff that helps you land the role — salary benchmarks, the weekly market pulse, and new-feature drops. No spam, just signal.

    Join the channel — it's free