Director, Mechanical Systems X-BAT (R6348)

The role

This person will lead the mechanical systems and mechanical test organization for X-BAT, and provide leadership across Mechanical Engineering and Air Vehicle Systems for the Group 5 aircraft portfolio. The role covers technical strategy, team development, and oversight of execution from design through flight readiness.

What you will do

• Lead and develop the mechanical systems and mechanical test organization for X-BAT
• Define organizational structure, decision authority, and resource alignment
• Recruit, coach, and develop engineering managers and senior technical leaders
• Establish technical strategy and roadmaps for landing gear, wing fold, doors, flight control actuation, hydraulics, environmental control, and thermal management
• Lead aircraft-level architecture and trade studies
• Partner with adjacent engineering teams to resolve interfaces and technical risks
• Oversee execution from design through integration, qualification, ground test, and flight readiness
• Build mechanical test capability
• Guide hardware development and supplier strategy
• Communicate technical direction and risks to executive leadership and customers

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 15+ years of relevant experience in aerospace mechanical systems, air vehicle systems, or comparable complex hardware development
• Substantial experience managing engineering managers and senior technical leaders
• Broad technical credibility across aircraft mechanical systems, with significant expertise in landing gear, actuation, mechanisms, environmental control, or thermal management
• Demonstrated success building engineering organizations and hiring and developing leaders
• Experience guiding teams through hardware development, integration, verification, supplier execution, manufacturing, and flight test
• Proven ability to make aircraft-level tradeoffs and manage cross-program dependencies
• Sound engineering and business judgment in decisions with incomplete information
• Clear, decisive communication skills
• U.S. citizenship

Nice to have

• Leadership experience spanning multiple mechanical engineering departments or a broad air vehicle systems portfolio
• Development experience on UAVs, autonomous aircraft, fighters, tactical aircraft, or other high-performance aerospace programs
• Experience scaling engineering organizations and test facilities in a rapid R&D or production environment
• Familiarity with airworthiness, qualification, and verification practices, including MIL-HDBK-516 and MIL-STD-810
• Experience taking aircraft hardware through prototype build, flight test, and transition to production
• Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• Active Secret or higher security clearance

Benefits

• Bonus
• Benefits
• Equity

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship is required
• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check
• Active Secret or higher security clearance is preferred

About the company

Shield AI develops intelligent systems, including autonomy software and advanced aircraft, to help U.S. and allied forces accomplish missions in challenging environments.