Shield AI
Director, Mechanical Systems X-BAT (R6348)
$265K–$370K
Seattle, Washington · On-site · Director · Full-time · Posted Oct 21, 2026
- Experience
- 15+ years of relevant experience.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Visa sponsorship
- U.S. citizenship required.
About the job
Leads X-BAT mechanical systems and test engineering, setting technical strategy and overseeing aircraft development from architecture through integration, qualification, ground test, and flight readiness.
What you'll do
- Lead and develop mechanical systems and test teams, including engineering managers and senior technical leaders.
- Set technical strategy and oversee aircraft-level design tradeoffs, hardware development, integration, qualification, and testing.
- Build mechanical test capability and guide supplier, manufacturing, ground-test, and flight-test execution.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 15+ years of relevant experience in aerospace mechanical systems, air vehicle systems, or comparable complex hardware development.
- Substantial experience managing engineering managers and senior technical leaders in a multidisciplinary engineering organization.
- U.S. citizenship.
Nice to have
- Development experience on UAVs, autonomous aircraft, fighters, tactical aircraft, or other high-performance aerospace programs.
- Active Secret or higher security clearance.
Pay
USD 265,000–370,000 (per-year-salary) — base salary
Tools
landing gear, wing fold, flight control actuation, hydraulics, environmental control, thermal management, MIL-HDBK-516, MIL-STD-810
AI focus
The role develops mechanical systems for X-BAT, an autonomous aircraft; no AI development work is specified.
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative