Job Description:Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Structural Analyst to provide advanced technical leadership in the structural analysis and validation of next-generation UAV platforms. In this role, you will serve as a senior subject-matter expert for airframe structures, leading complex analysis efforts, supporting test correlation, and ensuring structural integrity across development, flight test, and production.
This role is ideal for engineers with 12-15+ years of experience who have led major structural workstreams on aerospace programs and are comfortable owning analysis execution, mentoring engineers, and influencing key design tradeoffs within a program.
What you'll do:- Lead structural analysis efforts for UAV airframes, major substructures, and critical components within a program scope.
- Define and execute finite element modeling approaches, load cases, assumptions, and margin assessments.
- Perform and oversee static, modal, fatigue, vibration, and damage-tolerance analyses.
- Establish sound practices for hand calculations, model validation, and analysis-to-test correlation.
- Drive structural optimization across performance, weight, cost, and manufacturability targets.
- Support structural test strategy, including defining requirements, participating in execution, and correlating results to analysis.
- Review structural analysis deliverables, test reports, and technical documentation for design reviews.
- Mentor and technically guide structural analysts across varying experience levels.
- Partner cross-functionally with design, loads, aero, propulsion, and systems teams to balance structural requirements with overall aircraft performance goals.
- Contribute to evolving analysis methodologies and improving structural standards within the organization.
Required qualifications:- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years of experience in structural analysis, aircraft structures, or aerospace systems.
- Strong expertise with FEA tools (ANSYS, NASTRAN, HyperWorks, or similar).
- Advanced proficiency in hand calculations for strength, stability, fatigue, and damage tolerance.
- Significant experience with composite and lightweight aerospace structures.
- Experience supporting structural testing, model correlation, and flight test validation.
- Ability to lead complex technical workstreams and influence design decisions within a program.
- Strong communication skills and experience presenting analysis findings to engineering leadership.
- Ability to get a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
Preferred qualifications:- Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
- Experience serving as a senior technical lead on aircraft or UAV structural programs.
- Hands-on involvement in flight test support and certification efforts.
- Experience contributing to internal analysis standards or best practices.
- Familiarity with CAD, PLM, and enterprise engineering toolchains.
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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 representative for more information.
