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Mechanical Engineer I, Systems Integration (R5344)

United States
Full Time On-site

As a Systems Integration Engineer, you will own the design, integration, and installation of aircraft systems and components under the guidance of senior engineers. You will contribute to mechanical part design, installation layouts, drawing creation, and hardware integration activities while developing a strong foundation in aircraft design, manufacturing, and multidisciplinary engineering.

The ideal candidate is an self-starter with strong engineering fundamentals, a passion for aircraft development, and a desire to learn from experienced engineers. They are eager to contribute to multidisciplinary teams, solve challenging engineering problems, and develop expertise in aircraft integration and mechanical design.

What you'll do:

  • Design mechanical components, brackets, sheet metal parts, and assemblies.
  • Assist in developing aircraft installation layouts and subsystem packaging.
  • Design routing paths for EWIS, hydraulic, fuel, pneumatic, and ECS systems while coordinating interfaces with adjacent aircraft structures and subsystems.
  • Create engineering drawings and documentation.
  • Support CAD modeling and product structure development.
  • Assist with prototype builds and aircraft integration activities.
  • Support manufacturing and assembly issue resolution.
  • Participate in design reviews.
  • Apply GD&T and tolerance stack-up analyses to ensure manufacturable and interchangeable designs.
  • Colllaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate avionics and other system components seamlessly within the aircraft.

Required qualifications:

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
  • 0-2 years of professional experience designing and integrating mechanical systems for aircraft, aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or other complex electromechanical products.
  • Demonstrated proficiency creating 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings using NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, Creo, or a comparable CAD platform.
  • Understanding of mechanical design fundamentals, including machine design, material selection, fastening methods, and basic structural design principles.
  • Familiarity with designing machined, fabricated, and sheet metal components suitable for manufacturing and assembly.
  • Basic understanding of engineering drawings, drawing standards, and GD&T in accordance with ASME Y14.5.
  • Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
  • Basic understanding of aircraft or complex mechanical subsystem installation concepts, including equipment mounting, packaging, accessibility, and maintainability.
  • Familiarity with mechanical and electrical routing concepts for electrical wiring, hydraulic tubing, pneumatic tubing, or similar mechanical systems.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, assembly documentation, and Bills of Material (BOMs).
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to apply engineering fundamentals to practical design challenges.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Internship or co-op experience supporting aircraft, aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or other complex electromechanical products.
  • Hands-on experience developing mechanical components, assemblies, or installation hardware for student projects, Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Design Build Fly, or similar engineering projects.
  • Experience using PLM systems such as Teamcenter, Windchill, or 3DEXPERIENCE.
  • Familiarity with aircraft installation drawings, assembly drawings, or manufacturing documentation.
  • Exposure to prototype builds, manufacturing support, or hardware integration activities.
  • Experience performing basic engineering calculations, tolerance analyses, or structural hand calculations.
  • Experience using FEA tools such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, Siemens Simcenter, Abaqus, orCreo Simulate  for basic static or modal analyses.
  • Familiarity with aerospace standards, military specifications, or FAA design practices.
  • Experience collaborating within multidisciplinary engineering teams using formal engineering change or configuration management processes.
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.
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. 

About Shield AI

Shield AI

Shield AI is a defense technology company building autonomous AI systems for aircraft, drones, and intelligent mission software used in complex military environments. Founded in 2015, the company is best known for developing Hivemind, an AI pilot system that enables aircraft and drones to operate autonomously in contested and GPS-denied environments, supporting U.S. and allied defense missions.

For job seekers, Shield AI offers opportunities across advanced fields including artificial intelligence, robotics, software engineering, autonomy systems, aerospace engineering, embedded systems, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to engineers, AI researchers, and defense professionals who want to work on real-world autonomous systems that are actively being deployed in operational military scenarios.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Shield AI operates with a startup-style engineering culture focused on rapid experimentation, real-world testing, and fast deployment of autonomous capabilities. Employees work on tightly integrated AI and robotics systems that combine perception, decision-making, and control, enabling platforms to operate without direct human input in highly complex environments.

As modern warfare increasingly shifts toward autonomous systems, distributed sensing, and AI-enabled decision-making, Shield AI continues to grow as one of the most prominent companies in next-generation defense technology. For professionals seeking to build cutting-edge autonomy systems with direct mission impact, Shield AI stands out as a leading employer in the defense innovation ecosystem.

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