Shield 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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
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.
