Staff Mechanical Engineer, Systems Integration
Other Engineering
San Diego, CA, USA
USD 138k-200k / year + Equity
Posted on May 21, 2026
Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
As a Staff Systems Integration Engineer you will provide technical leadership for the integration of major aircraft systems across the full product development lifecycle. You will establish subsystem installation architectures, guide multidisciplinary engineering teams, and lead complex integration efforts involving structures, avionics, propulsion, electrical systems, manufacturing, and suppliers.
In this role, you will influence technical direction beyond your immediate assignments by developing integration strategies, improving engineering processes, and mentoring engineers across multiple programs.
The ideal candidate is a recognized technical leader with extensive experience integrating complex aircraft systems. They possess exceptional engineering judgment, are trusted to solve the organization's most challenging multidisciplinary integration problems, and consistently drive improvements in aircraft design, manufacturability, reliability, and engineering execution through collaboration and technical leadership.
What You'll Do
- Serve as the technical lead for integration of major aircraft systems across multiple engineering disciplines.
- Establish subsystem installation architecture and interface strategies for mechanical, electrical, avionics, and fluid systems.
- Lead multidisciplinary packaging studies balancing aircraft performance, manufacturability, maintainability, reliability, and serviceability.
- Develop engineering standards for installation design, routing practices, CAD modeling, drawing quality, and configuration management.
- Lead complex engineering investigations involving aircraft integration, manufacturing, supplier issues, or field problems.
- Review and approve installation drawings, BOM structures, engineering changes, and configuration baselines.
- Guide prototype builds, manufacturing readiness, and production integration activities.
- Lead technical coordination with Systems Owners, Structures, Stress, Manufacturing and Supply Chain organizations.
- Mentor engineers across multiple programs while driving technical consistency throughout the organization.
- Manage technical scope, schedule, risks, and engineering execution for major aircraft development efforts.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
- 7+ years of experience developing and integrating aircraft or complex aerospace systems.
- Demonstrated ownership of major aircraft subsystem integration from concept through production.
- Advanced aircraft installation design experience, including packaging, mounting, maintainability, and interface definition.
- Advanced CAD and PLM expertise with CATIA, NX, Creo, Teamcenter, Windchill, 3DEXPERIENCE, or equivalent tools.
- Strong experience designing machined, fabricated, sheet metal, and installation hardware.
- Experience leading EWIS, hydraulic, ECS, fuel, pneumatic, or similar aircraft routing design.
- Expert-level drawing development and release experience for part, assembly, and installation drawings.
- Advanced GD&T and tolerance stack-up capability.
- Experience managing BOMs, product structures, engineering changes, and configuration baselines.
- Experience supporting manufacturing, build, installation, MRB, supplier, and production readiness activities.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading integration on aircraft, autonomous aircraft, defense, eVTOL, or advanced aerospace programs.
- Experience performing structural analysis, hand calculations, load path assessments, or margin development.
- Experience with FEA for static, modal, vibration, fatigue, or thermal problems.
- Hands-on experience supporting build, production, testing, or hardware validation activities.
- Experience developing installation design standards, routing standards, or CAD/PLM best practices.
- Eperience mentoring engineers and reviewing technical work across multiple disciplines.
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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.
138000 - 200000 USD a year