Staff Engineer, Mechanical & Actuated Systems (R5293)

Dallas, TexasX-BAT Division – X-BAT Engineering - Mechanical /Full Time Employee /On-siteShield 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 . 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 Staff Mechanical & Actuated Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for contributing to the mechanical design and development of Shield AI's autonomous UAV products. You will help architect mechanical and actuated systems on the X-BAT platform, perform the detailed design of complex mechanical assemblies such as uplocks, doors, flight controls, landing gear, and wing fold, 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.What you'll do:Design complex electro-mechanical or hydro-mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraftOwn the full design process: concept, CAD design, analysis, tolerance stack-ups, material selection, and drawing releasePerform structural and kinematic calculations and preliminary FEAPrototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs for functionality and reliabilityCollaborate with electrical, avionics, hydraulics, flight controls, and propulsion teamsSupport pre-production builds, prototype integration, and ground/flight testingRequired qualifications:B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering7+ years in mechanical or mechanism designStrong CAD skills (NX preferred)Kinematic analysis and optimizationStructural analysis utilizing hand calculations and finite element methodsFEA analysis: Modal, non-linear and linear, buckling, fatigueGD&T and tolerance stack-ups for mechanical systemsMaterials selection inclusive of alloys, heat treatments, allowables, and finishesAbility to work independently in fast-paced, cross-functional teamsA demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to othersPreferred qualifications:Experience with UAVs, aircraft, or robotic systemsFamiliarity with electro-mechanical actuatorsProficiency in FMEA, DOE, and root cause analysisHands-on machine shop or mechanic experience (professional or hobby)RTCA DO-160, MIL-STD-810, structural, or actuated mechanism testing experienceAbility to thrive in startup, R&D, or defense innovation environments$130,000 - $200,000 a year#LI-MS1#LDFull-time regular employee offer package:Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + EquityTemporary 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. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.