Staff Mechanical Engineer - Launch & Recovery Systems

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn,X, YouTubeand Instagram.     
Job Description:Shield AI is pioneering AI pilots for aircraft that protect service members and civilians—pushing the boundaries of autonomous flight. Our next-generation UAS is designed for deployment in the most demanding, high-stakes environments. 
We are looking for a Staff Mechanical Engineer to join our team, focused on the design and integration of launch and recovery systems for our UAS platform. These critical mechanical systems enable safe, repeatable, and ruggedized field operations, supporting aircraft deployment and retrieval in austere and operationally complex settings. 
This role is ideal for engineers who thrive in hands-on development environments, bring strong expertise in mechanism design and hydraulics, and are excited to help shape the foundation of launch and recovery capabilities on one of the world’s most advanced autonomous aircraft. 

What you'll do:

• Design, develop, and integrate mechanical systems for launch and recovery, including electromechanical actuators, hydraulic systems, and robust deployment mechanisms. 
• Create detailed CAD models, mechanical drawings, and documentation to support prototyping and production. 
• Perform mechanical and structural analysis to validate the integrity and performance of critical systems in real-world operating environments. 
• Partner with flight operations, avionics, systems, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration and functionality of launch/recovery systems. 
• Lead design reviews and collaborate on system-level trade studies to balance performance, maintainability, and cost. 
• Support hands-on prototyping and iterative development, including testing and field validation. 
• Author technical documentation, system procedures, and test plans to support flight and operational teams. 
• Provide engineering support during field exercises and test events, ensuring readiness and reliability of all recovery systems. 

Required qualifications:

• 8+ 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.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience developing launch, recovery, or deployment systems for UAS, aircraft, or other mobile platforms. 
• Familiarity with MIL-STD design constraints and ruggedization best practices. 
• Exposure to environmental and dynamic testing, including vibration, thermal cycling, and fatigue. 
• Experience working directly with fabrication shops, contract manufacturers, and suppliers. 
• Ability to support field testing and flight campaigns with on-the-ground engineering support. 
• Active or eligible for U.S. Secret Clearance. 

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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