Director, Avionics Mechanical Engineering

The role

Lead the organization that designs the mechanical, thermal, and harnessing (EWIS) hardware for the X-BAT aircraft and ground equipment. Set the technical strategy, build and develop managers and technical leads, and deliver flight-critical electro-mechanical hardware from concept through production.

What you will do

• Own the technical vision, strategy, and roadmap for mechanical, thermal, and EWIS engineering on X-BAT flight and ground avionics
• Build and scale a multi-team organization by hiring and developing managers and technical leads and planning headcount
• Be accountable for delivering complex electro-mechanical hardware that survives harsh environments, from architecture through production
• Set engineering standards, design review practices, and processes for flight-critical avionics
• Serve as final technical authority on key mechanical and thermal architecture tradeoffs and escalate risk to program leadership
• Partner with electrical, RF, PCB, reliability, structures, supply chain, and manufacturing leaders
• Own resourcing, schedule commitments, supplier and contract manufacturer strategy, and make-vs-buy decisions
• Build a culture of extreme ownership, technical rigor, and accountability

Required qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 15+ years of experience in mechanical design around electronics and electrical systems, including early-career hands-on design of enclosures, thermal solutions, and harness integration
• 5+ years of people leadership, including managing managers or leading multiple engineering teams
• Proven record of building and scaling engineering teams through rapid growth
• Record of delivering complex avionics or electro-mechanical hardware from concept through production
• Technical fluency in avionics packaging, FEA, thermal analysis, and fatigue and lifecycle testing
• Experience setting engineering strategy, standards, and processes across an organization
• Experience managing relationships with fabrication shops, contract manufacturers, and key suppliers
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, agile environment with shifting priorities
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance

Nice to have

• Experience leading hardware teams on aircraft, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or defense platforms
• Background in high-rate hardware production, such as satellites, EV power electronics, or autonomous vehicles
• Experience with DO-160, MIL-STD-810, or similar environmental qualification standards
• Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or equivalent Engineering

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity
• Temporary benefits package, applicable after 60 days of employment for temporary employees

Before you apply

• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance is required
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company whose mission is protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.