Staff Mechanical Engineer – Lead Hardware Development

About the role

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead complex hardware efforts from concept through deployment for airborne and ruggedized platforms. The role owns mechanical design, system integration, and production‑ready engineering definitions, working closely with cross‑functional teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and integration for airborne or ruggedized systems from concept through production and field deployment.
• Develop and review complex 3D CAD models, assemblies, 2D production drawings, BOMs, and release packages.
• Establish functional datum structures, apply advanced GD&T, and perform tolerance analyses.
• Own system‑level packaging of electronics, including radios, antennas, PCBAs, and harnesses.
• Design components using metals, plastics, composites, elastomers, adhesives, and select appropriate manufacturing processes.
• Drive cross‑functional collaboration with electrical, RF, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams.
• Serve as technical lead on projects, managing scope, schedule, risk, and execution.
• Lead design reviews and support prototype builds, qualification, production integration, and troubleshooting.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of mechanical design and product‑development experience with ownership of complex products from concept to production.
• Advanced proficiency in GD&T and ASME Y14.5, including functional datum selection and tolerance controls.
• Extensive experience creating detailed 2D production drawings for complex assemblies.
• Strong proficiency with a production CAD platform such as NX, Creo, CATIA, SolidWorks, or Inventor.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally with manufacturing, quality, electrical engineering, and supply chain teams.

Required skills

• 3D CAD (NX, Creo, CATIA, SolidWorks, Inventor)
• 2D production drawing creation
• Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and ASME Y14.5
• Material selection (metals, plastics, composites, elastomers, adhesives)
• Manufacturing processes: CNC machining, additive manufacturing, injection molding, composite fabrication, sheet metal, bonded assembly
• Tolerance analysis and design for inspection
• Electronics packaging: radios, antennas, PCBAs, harnesses
• RF systems integration