Staff Engineer, Landing Gear Systems - Ranger (R6294)

The role

You will own the landing gear architecture, mechanism design, structural analysis and vehicle integration for a new UAV platform. You will work as the sole landing gear subject matter expert on this program, from concept through flight test.

What you will do

• Lead landing gear architecture definition and trade studies.
• Own CAD design from concept through drawing release, including linkage kinematics and tolerance stack-ups.
• Perform structural and fatigue hand calculations backed by finite element analysis and dynamic landing load assessments.
• Size and select wheels, tires, brakes, shock absorbers, actuators and nose wheel steering.
• Write technical specifications and statements of work for landing gear components and manage suppliers.
• Define verification test plans, design test fixtures and support drop test campaigns.
• Support prototype assembly, ground taxi testing and flight test, and resolve mechanism anomalies through root-cause investigation.
• Support proposals and capture activities.

Required qualifications

• 7 years (L4) to 12 years (L5) of direct experience in aerospace mechanism design, aircraft landing gear or primary structural development.
• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Deep knowledge of classical solid mechanics, kinematics, dynamics, fatigue, materials selection and GD&T.
• Experience with closed-form hand calculations and FEA (linear, non-linear, buckling, modal) for high-load components.
• Extensive 3D CAD and PLM experience, such as Siemens NX, CATIA or Creo, with drawing release.
• Experience sourcing aerospace hardware and working with mechanism or actuator suppliers.
• Ability to self-direct and deliver hardware under tight timelines.
• Secret eligible security clearance.

Nice to have

• Direct experience with UAV, autonomous aircraft or rotorcraft landing systems and arresting gear integration.
• Familiarity with drop-test and environmental standards such as MIL-STD-810, RTCA DO-160, AS6053, MIL-A-8866 and MIL-A-8867.
• Hands-on machine shop, fabrication or mechanical assembly experience in a prototype or rapid R&D environment.

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits package
• Equity (full-time regular employees)
• Temporary benefits package after 60 days (temporary employees)

Before you apply

• Offers are contingent on a cleared background check and possible reference check.
• Secret eligible 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 that builds intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.