Principal Mechanical Engineer, Structural Design (R4444) at Shield AI | Torre

Principal Mechanical Engineer, Structural Design (R4444)

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Full-time

Legal agreement: Employment

Compensation
USD190k - 290k/year
location_on
Remote (for United States residents)
Posted 8 months ago

Responsibilities


Job DescriptionShield AI is seeking a Principal Structural Design Engineer to play a critical role in the development of structural components for our next-generation autonomous aircraft. As a senior member of the Mechanical Engineering team, you will own the design and development of high-performance structural systems, from clean-sheet concepts to production-ready hardware.You’ll work across disciplines to ensure structural integrity, manufacturability, and mission-readiness in one of the most advanced autonomous aircraft platforms being built today. This role is ideal for an experienced aerospace mechanical engineer who thrives in fast-paced, high-ownership environments and is passionate about building systems that matter.What you'll doLead the design and development of structural components and assemblies for Shield AI’s next-gen UAV platform, with a focus on primary and secondary aircraft structures.Own the structural design lifecycle including concept generation, CAD modeling, detail design, and drawing release, ensuring high quality and traceability.Use FEA tools to perform and guide linear and nonlinear structural analysis, stress analysis, and margin assessment under operational loads and edge cases.Work closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless system integration across airframe and subsystem interfaces.Support and lead efforts in material selection, focusing on composites, aluminum alloys, and advanced manufacturing approaches suited to mission and environment.Participate in and lead design reviews, architecture discussions, and technical decision-making forums related to structural systems.Oversee the design and execution of structural validation testing, including coupon-level, subcomponent, and full-system testing.Guide the development of design documentation, analysis reports, interface definitions, and verification plans in compliance with MIL-STD, FAA, and internal Shield AI standards.Mentor junior engineers and review team members’ work for technical rigor, performance, and manufacturability.Collaborate with the manufacturing and flight test teams to transition designs from engineering to production and field deployment.Identify opportunities to improve design processes, configuration management, and team workflows for increased engineering velocity and design quality.