Shield AI
Staff Engineer, Aircraft Configuration Design - Ranger (R6298)
Seattle, Washington · Staff · Full-time · Posted Oct 29, 2026
- Experience
- Typically a minimum of 7 years of related experience in aircraft design, configuration layout, or airframe integration.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field).
About the job
Designs and integrates aircraft configurations for autonomous UAVs, supporting analysis, prototyping, testing, and transition to production.
What you'll do
- Support aircraft conceptual and preliminary design, sizing, weight estimation, and configuration trade studies.
- Develop aircraft CAD models and perform basic aerodynamic, structural, and weight-and-balance analyses.
- Coordinate system integration, prototype development, testing, requirements, and design transition with engineering and production teams.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field).
- Proficiency in CAD modeling (NX, SolidWorks, or similar).
- Basic understanding of aircraft aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion integration; ability to perform basic FEA, CFD, or weight & balance assessments.
- Active Secret clearance.
Nice to have
- Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field).
- Experience with UAV or aircraft conceptual design, performance modeling, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, or defense environments; active TS clearance or ability to gain one.
Tools
NX, SolidWorks, FEA, CFD
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative