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Engineering Manager, Air Vehicle Mechanical Systems (R5391)

Shield AI· X-BAT Division – X-BAT Engineering - Mechanical
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Hybrid (San Diego, CA / Dallas, TX)$152.8k - $229.2kFull Time EmployeePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Manager of Actuated Systems leading a mechanical engineering team focused on aircraft mechanisms and actuation systems for the X-BAT jet-engine VTOL UAV platform, overseeing architecture, design, analysis, and release of doors, uplocks/downlocks, landing gear, and propulsion/actuation mechanisms.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and develop a team of mechanical engineers from new grad to Principal focused on aircraft mechanisms and actuation systems (architecture, detailed design, analysis support, release, and sustaining).
  • Provide end-to-end design support for mechanisms including Doors & latching, Uplocks/Downlocks, Landing gear mechanisms, Actuation integration for flight controls, Nozzle / propulsion actuation mechanisms, Actuation, Hydraulics.
  • Set the quality bar for mechanisms engineering: sizing, tolerances, margins, drawings/MBD, materials/process selection, and verification evidence.
  • Enable extreme ownership by ensuring engineers have clear goals, interfaces, resources, and decision rights.
  • Drive cross-functional collaboration across systems, structures/loads, aero, propulsion, GNC, avionics, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, test, and flight test.
  • Coach and develop engineers through mentorship, career development, feedback, hiring, onboarding, and performance management.
  • Manage team workload across multiple builds and test campaigns; communicate risk, staffing needs, and schedule impacts with transparency.

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
  • 10+ years experience with aerospace mechanisms and actuated system design, build, integration, test and flight.
  • 2+ years leading teams or performing in a team leadership role.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams with high autonomy—setting direction, ensuring quality, and scaling output through people.
  • Strong engineering fundamentals: kinematics, statics/dynamics, fatigue/wear, tolerancing/GD&T, materials and finishes, lubrication/bearings, failure modes.
  • Experience shipping hardware through prototype build, test, iteration, and release, including supplier and manufacturing engagement.

Skills

Required:Mechanical design and analysis of aircraft mechanismsLeadership and mentoring

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location.
  • All offers contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
  • Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Shield AI

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Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

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