Job Description:Shield AI is seeking an Aerostructures Design Manager to support the development of mechanisms for our next-generation autonomous aircraft. As a contributor on the Launch and Recovery Vehicle team you will lead the design and development of high-performance mechanisms from concept through production release. In this role, you'll lead and contribute to the development of complex, mission-critical technologies while guiding a talented team to deliver at a high level. Blending hands-on technical work with leadership, you'll help drive innovation, solve challenging problems, and bring cutting-edge systems from concept to reality.
What you'll do:Functional Excellence:- Directly contribute to the design, analysis, and integration of mechanical systems and subsystems for X-BAT Launch and Recovery Vehicle.
- Establish and improve pragmatic mechanical engineering standards, templates, specifications, and best practices that increase design quality, reduce rework, and enable faster iteration.
- Own mechanical engineering deliverables across the product lifecycle-from early concept and prototyping through test, production, and field support-with a bias toward execution and delivery.
- Own failure mode analysis and reliability modeling for mechanical systems, establish lightweight, repeatable practices (e.g., FMEA, fault trees) that proactively identify risks, reduce field failures, and inform design tradeoffs.
- Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Program Management, and Flight Operations to ensure designs are buildable, testable, and reliable in real-world environments.
- Provide hands-on technical support during ground and flight testing, demos, and field operations; rapidly troubleshoot and implement design fixes under tight timelines.
Team Leadership and Development:- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of mechanical engineers, providing technical guidance, regular feedback, and clear expectations for ownership and execution.
- Recruit and hire experienced mechanical engineers to strengthen team capability, elevate technical standards, and improve mentorship depth.
- Act as a player-coach: balance meaningful individual technical contribution with team leadership, design reviews, and day-to-day unblock of engineers.
- Establish team norms around accountability, decision-making speed, and engineering rigor-ensuring high-quality output without slowing momentum.
- Set clear priorities aligned with program goals; actively manage team bandwidth, identify risks early, and communicate tradeoffs to leadership.
- Drive clear and concise technical communication, ensuring design decisions, assumptions, and tradeoffs are well-documented and understood across functions.
Required qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
- 10+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, ground support equipment, or related ruggedized hardware systems.
- 3+ years of leadership/manger with demonstrated excellence in building, retaining, and leading a high performing engineering team
- Proficiency in 3D CAD software (NX preferred) with demonstrated ability to create detailed GD&T-compliant component and assembly 3D models and drawings.
- Proficiency in developing drawing templates/standards, and design/manufacturing specifications.
- Familiarity with industry standards (ASME, ISO, ASTM, or industry-specific regulatory requirements).
- Experience with engineering analysis methods (FEA, stress, thermal, tolerance stack-up, fatigue, fluid flow as applicable) to validate design integrity.
- Ownership of 2-3 full product development cycles from concept through release to production to on-going customer sustainment.
- Cross-functional collaboration experience with other Engineering Functions, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Field Operations.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-ownership development environment with evolving priorities
- Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
Preferred qualifications:- M.S. degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
- Experience supporting UAV, DoD, or aerospace full vehicle programs.
- Familiarity with aerospace standards (MIL-STD, ASME Y14.5, FAA).
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes (machining, sheet metal, injection molding, casting, additive manufacturing) and ability to design for manufacturability (DFM)
- Knowledge of reliability modeling and analysis methods.
- Experience using FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or similar) for linear structural analysis.
$180,000 - $270,000 a year
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.
