Staff Engineering Specialist, Hardware Test (R4710)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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

Shield AI’s mission is to protect the lives of service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The Hardware Test Engineering team supports this mission by developing and maintaining the test infrastructure used to validate and produce reliable V-BAT hardware.

As a Staff Engineering Specialist supporting the Mechanical team, you will build, design, and maintain mechanical hardware used in production test systems and manufacturing support equipment. These systems include mechanical fixtures, test adapters, tooling, and structural assemblies that enable reliable and repeatable testing of aircraft subsystems and components.

What you'll do

In this hands-on role, you will design and fabricate mechanical solutions, assemble and maintain production test fixtures, and support hardware integration on the production floor. You will work closely with mechanical engineers, test engineers, and manufacturing teams to ensure test systems are robust, serviceable, and capable of supporting production throughput. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys building physical systems, solving practical mechanical problems, and working directly with hardware in a fast-paced aerospace production environment.

Required qualifications

Hands-on experience building or maintaining mechanical systems, tooling, fixtures, or production equipment. Experience with mechanical fabrication and assembly, including use of shop tools and hardware. Experience designing or modifying mechanical fixtures, brackets, adapters, or structural components. Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings and engineering documentation. Experience working with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, NX, or similar. Strong mechanical troubleshooting skills and ability to diagnose issues with physical systems. Experience supporting hardware work in production or hardware development environments. Demonstrated ability to take ownership of hardware systems and deliver reliable solutions.

Preferred qualifications

Experience designing production test fixtures or manufacturing support tooling. Experience working in aerospace, robotics, automotive, or complex hardware environments. Familiarity with basic electrical interfaces or instrumentation used in test systems. Experience with rapid prototyping techniques, including 3D printing, CNC machining, or quick-turn fabrication. Experience with heavy machinery, equipment and lift systems; scissor lift, boom lifts, fork lift etc. Experience collaborating with manufacturing, test, and design engineering teams. Demonstrated ability to iterate quickly on mechanical solutions for evolving hardware programs.