a16z Staff Engineer, Mechanical (R5482)
Summary
Lead mechanical design and integration for autonomous aircraft and ruggedized systems, coordinating electronics, RF components, and composite structures from concept to deployment.
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:
We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer who can lead complex hardware efforts from concept through deployment. This individual will own mechanical design while integrating electronics, RF systems, and composite structures into cohesive, field-ready platforms. You should be comfortable operating as a technical lead and driving cross-functional execution.
What you'll do:
- Lead mechanical design and integration for airborne or ruggedized systems, from concept through production.
- Own system-level packaging of electronics, including radios, antennas, PCBAs, and harnessing.
- Design and integrate components into composite and metallic structures.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration across electrical, RF, manufacturing, and test teams.
- Serve as project lead on select programs, managing scope, schedule, and technical execution.
- Perform and guide analyses including structural, thermal, and environmental considerations.
- Create and review CAD models, drawings, and release packages for production.
- Support prototype builds, integration, and troubleshooting in lab and field environments.
- Ensure designs meet reliability, manufacturability, and performance requirements.
Required qualifications;
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
- 8+ years of experience in mechanical design and product development.
- Strong experience with CAD (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, Creo).
- Proven ability to take products from concept to production.
- Experience working in cross-functional engineering environments.
- Demonstrated ownership of projects or subsystems with minimal oversight.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience integrating electronics into mechanical systems, including:
- Radios, antennas, and RF components.
- PCBAs and embedded electronics.
- Familiarity with wiring and cable systems, including coax, RF cables, and harness design (e.g., RG-series, RMA considerations).
- Experience designing for composite structures and hybrid assemblies (composite + metal).
- Understanding of thermal management for electronics (heat dissipation, airflow, conduction paths).
- Knowledge of grounding, shielding, and EMI/EMC considerations.
- Experience with ground support equipment (GSE) design or test infrastructure.
- Familiarity with environmental requirements (vibration, shock, temperature, ingress).
- Experience working closely with RF or electrical engineering teams on system integration.
- Hands-on build, integration, and troubleshooting experience.
Leadership expectations:
- Act as a technical lead for projects or subsystems.
- Drive design reviews and decision-making.
- Mentor junior engineers and elevate team capability.
- Balance speed and rigor in a fast-paced development 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.