Staff Engineer, Aircraft Configuration Design (R5830)
f7d8749a-72d6-407c-bf98-292ea630c73a · Posted Sep 24, 2026
- San Diego, California, United States
- Full-time · Senior
- 7+ years
Support the development of next-generation autonomous UAVs by designing, optimizing, and integrating aircraft configurations to ensure performance, manufacturability, and operational effectiveness.
Compensation
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Responsibilities
- Assist in the conceptual and preliminary design of Shield AI’s UAV platforms, ensuring optimal aerodynamic and structural configurations.
- Support aircraft sizing, weight estimation, and trade studies to evaluate different airframe configurations.
- Work with multi-disciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, propulsion, avionics) to ensure seamless system integration.
- Develop and refine 3D CAD models of aircraft structures, subsystems, and flight-critical components.
- Perform basic aerodynamic and structural analysis using computational tools to assess feasibility and performance impacts.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field)
- Nice to have: Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related field)
- Nice to have: UAV design or aircraft conceptual design
- Nice to have: Aircraft performance modeling
- Nice to have: Stability & control