Senior Staff Engineer, Mechanical & Actuated Systems (R6307)

Seattle · USD 200,000-310,000 / year · 10+ years experience · Onsite · Posted Oct 18, 2026

At a glance

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Engineer for Mechanical & Actuated Systems to design complex electro-mechanical or hydro-mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraft.
The role owns the full design process from concept through CAD, analysis, tolerance stackups, and drawing release while collaborating across cross-functional engineering teams.

Design complex electro-mechanical or hydro-mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraft
Own the full design process: concept, CAD design, analysis, tolerance stackups, material selection, and drawing release
Perform structural and kinematic calculations and preliminary FEA
Prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs for functionality and reliability
Collaborate with electrical, avionics, hydraulics, flight controls, and propulsion teams
Mentor junior engineers and help set technical direction and promote technical excellence
Support pre-production builds, prototype integration, and ground/flight testing

B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering
10+ years in mechanical or mechanism design
Strong CAD skills
Kinematic analysis and optimization
Structural analysis utilizing hand calculations and finite element methods
FEA analysis: Modal, non-linear and linear, buckling, fatigue
GD&T and tolerance stack-ups for mechanical systems
Materials selection inclusive of alloys, heat treatments, allowables, and finishes
Ability to work independently in fast-paced, cross-functional teams
A demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to others