Senior Staff Engineer, Electromechanical

About the role

Senior Staff Electromechanical Engineer at Shield AI operates at the critical intersection of defense technology and advanced autonomy. The individual in this role owns the definition and stewardship of the electromechanical architecture that enables next generation aircraft to perform in contested environments. This position demands ownership of design integration while guiding projects from initial concept sketches through to production deployment and field reliability. Success requires solving complex electromechanical integration challenges under strict reliability, safety, and mission performance targets. Decisions made in this role directly influence hardware performance, system resilience, and operational effectiveness in real-world mission conditions. The role necessitates close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure mechanical, electrical, and software components function as a unified system. You will be responsible for translating high level system requirements into robust physical implementations that survive demanding operational scenarios. Your work will ensure that the physical infrastructure supporting autonomy platforms remains dependable in austere and high stress conditions.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design wiring harnesses and mounting solutions while coordinating closely with flight dynamics teams for V-BAT integration.
• Establish comprehensive test procedures to validate environmental performance for X-BAT avionics enclosures under simulated mission conditions.
• Lead failure analysis efforts for Aechelon components to identify root causes and drive durability improvements before hardware builds occur.
• Collaborate with simulation groups to ensure synthetic reality models accurately reflect physical sensor layouts and environmental interactions.
• Verify that production processes meet specifications for high g-load scenarios encountered in defense missions and rapid maneuver operations.
• Document configuration changes in detail to enable operations teams to maintain systems effectively in austere environments and during extended deployments.
• Partner with suppliers to secure ruggedized connectors and subsystems that satisfy stringent electromagnetic interference standards and military specifications.
• Track program requirements to ensure traceability from concept drawings, through design iterations, to fielded units in operational service.
• Drive risk reviews that reveal interface issues between mechanical structures, mounting strategies, and flight hardware integration points.
• Support field assessments and testing campaigns so that rapid design iterations address unexpected environmental interactions and real world conditions.

Requirements

You must bring a minimum of three years of hands on experience with electromechanical systems designed for demanding defense and aerospace conditions. A practical history with aircraft wiring, connectors, and full harness integration is essential and forms a core part of your technical foundation. You must demonstrate proven capability managing design controls, configuration management processes, and change authorization workflows for complex hardware programs. Experience with DO 160 or similar environmental test standards is mandatory to ensure systems survive vibration, temperature, and electromagnetic challenges. Proficiency with CAD tools for enclosure design, bracket development, and mechanical integration work is required for success in this role. You must be able to interpret technical data sheets, connector specifications, and environmental ratings to make informed hardware decisions. Strong attention to detail is required to maintain strict compliance with defense documentation standards and traceability requirements. Effective communication skills are necessary to coordinate with cross functional teams and explain technical trade offs to both engineering and operational stakeholders.

Nice to have

Experience with UAV payload integration and mission specific avionics form factors is a valuable asset that can accelerate initial design decisions. Familiarity with relevant form factors and the associated integration challenges will enhance your contribution to platform development.

Practical notes

This role is based in Dallas, Texas and is a full time employee position. The compensation package includes a base salary of $170,000.00, an annual bonus of $30,000.00, and annual equity valued at $20,000.00. The position requires adherence to standard full time working hours as defined by company policy. There may be travel required to support field assessments, customer engagements, and collaborative test activities as project needs dictate. No specific visa sponsorship information is provided within the current job description. Applicants should review the complete job description and requirements thoroughly before proceeding with any application steps. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube for updates and insights into the company mission and ongoing technology development efforts.