Staff Engineer, Landing Gear Systems (RX) (R5372)

The role

This Staff or Senior Staff Landing Gear Engineer takes full technical ownership of landing gear architecture, mechanism design, structural analysis and vehicle integration for a special access program. The role includes supplier management, test support and flight test support.

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 stress and fatigue hand calculations backed by finite element analysis and dynamic landing load assessments.
• Size and select wheels, tires, brakes, shock absorption, actuators and nose wheel steering.
• Author technical specifications and statements of work for landing gear components and evaluate vendors.
• Define verification test plans, design test fixtures and support drop test campaigns.
• Support prototype assembly, ground taxi testing and flight test operations.
• Resolve mechanism anomalies through root-cause investigation and implement rapid design changes.
• Support proposals and capture work.
• Work as the sole landing gear subject matter expert on the program.

Required qualifications

• Active Secret or higher US security clearance; US citizens only.
• 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.
• Demonstrated closed-form hand calculations and FEA (linear, non-linear, buckling, modal).
• Extensive 3D CAD and PLM experience; Siemens NX preferred, or equivalent such as CATIA or Creo.
• Proven track record sourcing aerospace hardware and working with mechanism or actuator suppliers.
• Ability to self-direct and deliver functional hardware under tight timelines.

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 (not available to military fellows or part-time employees)
• Equity for full-time regular employees
• Temporary benefits package for temporary employees, applicable after 60 days of employment

Before you apply

• US citizens only.
• Active Secret or higher clearance required.
• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.

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.