Senior Manager Mechanisms Engineering (R4858)

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.
Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

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.

What We Do

Founded in 2015 Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft Hivemind Enterprise and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S. Europe the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.

Why Work With Us

What makes Shield AI special is our people. We unlock the power of autonomy and in the face of overwhelming odds and challenges we find ways to win and make a difference for our customers. We bring together software AI and aerospace engineering disciplines to deploy the most intelligent aviation capabilities in the world.

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