a16z Staff Engineer, Landing Gear Systems (R5372)
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Summary
Lead the mechanical design and development of landing gear systems for autonomous UAVs, including electro-mechanical and hydro-mechanical mechanisms, structural analysis, and prototype testing. Core technologies: NX CAD, FEA, kinematic analysis, and aerospace landing gear design.
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:
As a Staff (L4) or Senior Staff (L5) Landing Gear Engineer, you will take full technical ownership of the landing gear architecture, kinematic mechanism design, structural analysis, and vehicle integration for a dedicated special access program. Serving as the sole landing gear subject matter expert on this program, you will work from first principles to execute mechanism trades, perform structural hand calculations, design hardware, manage external component suppliers, support proposals and capture, and deliver flight-ready systems in a rapid-iteration development environment. This position requires a balance of technical rigor, rapid decision-making, and hands-on engineering to efficiently transition concepts into operational capability. The ideal candidate is comfortable solving complex problems, taking ownership, working within an accelerated aircraft development environment, and is motivated by getting meaningful capability into the hands of operators quickly.
What you'll do:
- Architecture and Kinematic Trades: Lead landing gear architecture definition and trade studies (e.g., electro-mechanical vs. hydro-mechanical actuation, fixed vs. retractable kinematics, stowage packaging) to meet vehicle mass, volume, and ground handling requirements.
- Mechanism and Structural Design: Own the full CAD design lifecycle from initial concept through drawing release, including complex linkage kinematics, clearance envelopes, structural load paths, material selection, and rigorous tolerance stack-ups.
- Structural and Dynamic Sizing: Perform first-principles classical stress and fatigue hand calculations, backed by finite element analysis (linear/non-linear, modal, buckling) and dynamic landing load assessments.
- Subsystem Sizing and Selection: Size and select wheels, tires, brakes, shock absorption systems, actuators, and nose wheel steering mechanisms tailored to vehicle landing and taxi envelopes.
- Component Sourcing and Vendor Management: Author technical specifications and statements of work (SOW) for landing gear components, evaluate vendors, and drive supplier technical execution.
- Test, Drop Qualification, and Validation: Define verification test plans, design mechanical test fixtures, support drop test campaigns, and execute functional validation against performance requirements.
- Integration and Flight Test Support: Support prototype assembly, ground taxi testing, and flight test operations to identify discrepancies, resolve mechanism anomalies via root-cause investigation, and implement rapid design changes.
Required qualifications:
- Clearance: US Citizens Only; must have an active Secret or higher clearance.
- Experience: minimum 7 years (L4) to 12 years (L5) of direct experience in aerospace mechanism design, aircraft landing gear systems, or primary structural development.
- Education: B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Core Fundamentals: Deep mastery of classical solid mechanics, kinematics, dynamics, fatigue, materials selection (alloys, heat treatments, surface treatments, allowables), and GD&T/tolerance stack-up methodologies.
- Analysis and Modeling: Demonstrated capability performing closed-form hand calculations and FEA analysis (linear, non-linear, buckling, modal) for high-load mechanism and structural components.
- CAD and PLM: Extensive experience in 3D CAD modeling, mechanism layout, and drawing release (Siemens NX preferred, or equivalent like CATIA/Creo) with PLM workflows.
- Hardware and Supplier Execution: Proven track record sourcing aerospace hardware, collaborating with specialized mechanism/actuator suppliers, and supporting physical builds and test rigs.
- Autonomy: Demonstrated ability to self-direct, prioritize technical tasks without oversight, and deliver functional hardware under tight timelines.
Preferred qualifications:
- Direct experience with UAV, autonomous aircraft, or rotorcraft landing systems and arresting gear integration.
- Familiarity with aerospace structural, environmental, and mechanism drop-test standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, RTCA DO-160, AS6053, MIL-A-8866/MIL-A-8867).
- Hands-on machine shop, fabrication, or mechanical assembly experience in a prototype or rapid R&D environment.
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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.
Skills
As published by lever · 20 questions · 9 written answers
Basics
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 (10)
- 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?
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- Are you a transitioning service member?
- If yes, what partnership program are you working with? optional
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- Do you have, or are you able to obtain, a S/SAR clearance? optional
Written answers (9)
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