a16z Senior Staff Engineer, Survivability Materials
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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
At Shield AI, we are building intelligent autonomous aircraft designed to operate and survive in highly contested environments. We are seeking a Survivability Materials Engineer to lead the selection, qualification, specification, and production implementation of low-observable and signature-control materials for next-generation autonomous aircraft.
This role is ideal for an engineer with experience in radar-absorbing materials, specialty coatings, electromagnetic material characterization, and aerospace manufacturing processes. You will work across survivability analysis, design engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and sustainment teams to ensure material solutions meet signature-performance requirements while remaining producible, inspectable, durable, and supportable throughout the aircraft lifecycle.
What you'll do:
- Conduct material surveys and evaluate radar-absorbing materials, conductive materials, dielectric materials, specialty coatings, adhesives, sealants, and other survivability-related material systems.
- Develop and maintain a survivability materials database containing performance, cost, supplier, part-number, availability, application, and sustainment information.
- Partner with survivability analysis, design, manufacturing, and program teams to down-select materials based on signature performance, durability, producibility, weight, cost, and supply-chain risk.
- Develop material qualification plans and oversee electromagnetic, electrical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and environmental testing.
- Establish and maintain laboratory capabilities for material characterization, process development, receiving inspection, and production verification.
- Provide hands-on production support for material application, inspection, troubleshooting, repair, supplier coordination, and sustainment.
Required qualifications:
- B.S. or M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
- 10+ years of experience in aerospace materials engineering, low-observable materials, electromagnetic materials, specialty coatings, or a related field.
- Working knowledge of radar-absorbing materials, conductive coatings, dielectric materials, adhesives, sealants, or specialty surface treatments.
- Understanding of how complex permittivity, complex permeability, conductivity, and thickness affect electromagnetic and radar-signature performance.
- Experience with material characterization, laboratory testing, production inspection, or supplier qualification.
- U.S. Citizenship and active Secret clearance required.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience developing or qualifying radar-absorbing materials, low-observable coatings, structural RAM, conductive treatments, or signature-control appliqués.
- Experience measuring electromagnetic material properties using free-space, waveguide, coaxial, resonant-cavity, or reflectivity-based test methods.
- Familiarity with vector network analyzers, free-space measurement systems, conductivity equipment, coating-thickness instruments, environmental chambers, and mechanical test equipment.
- Active Secret, Top Secret, or SCI security clearance.
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
As published by lever · 21 questions · 9 written answers
Basics
Which location are you applying for?, Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Twitter URL, GitHub URL, Portfolio URL, Other website
Short answers (1)
- Please state your full legal name:
Pick from a list (11)
- Are you authorized to work in the United States?
- Will you require sponsorship for employment now or in the future?
- This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to export controls, such as EAR. Are you any of the following?
- Shield AI provides technology, services, and support to the United States military and allied forces with their various missions. If selected for employment with Shield AI, your contributions will directly relate to and/or support these missions. Are there any reasons why you would not be able to fully contribute in support of the U.S. military and allied forces?
- How did you hear about us?
- Are you a transitioning service member?
- If yes, what partnership program are you working with? optional
- Are you local to or willing to relocate? optional
- What office(s) would you be willing to relocate to? (Select all that apply) optional
- Do you have, or are you able to obtain, a S/SAR clearance? optional
- This position requires an Active or the eligibility to obtain a U.S. DoD Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). optional
Written answers (9)
- If yes, what type of sponsorship? optional
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- When are you available for full time work? optional
- What full time job(s) are you applying for?
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