# Staff Engineer, Aircraft Configuration Design

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** San Diego, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $144k – $210k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** Aircraft Design, Uav Design, Aircraft Aerodynamics, Airframe Structures, Propulsion Integration, CAD, Nx, Solidworks, FEA, Cfd, Weight And Balance, Wind Tunnel Testing, Flight Dynamics, Composite Materials, Systems Integration
**Posted:** 2026-09-09

> Design and integrate aircraft configurations for autonomous UAV platforms, supporting sizing, CAD modeling, aerodynamic and structural analysis, prototyping, and production transition. Requires a relevant bachelor's degree, 5 years of aircraft design experience, and an active Secret clearance.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Support conceptual and preliminary design of autonomous UAV platforms, including aerodynamic and structural configuration optimization.
- Perform aircraft sizing, weight estimation, and configuration trade studies.
- Integrate mechanical, electrical, propulsion, avionics, and mission systems.
- Develop and refine 3D CAD models of aircraft structures, subsystems, and flight-critical components.
- Conduct basic aerodynamic and structural analyses using computational tools, including FEA, CFD, and weight-and-balance assessments.
- Participate in design reviews, system trade studies, prototype development, rapid prototyping, and scaled-model wind tunnel testing.
- Support requirements development, technical documentation, and verification planning for aircraft subsystems.
- Ensure designs meet manufacturing, mission, and aerospace standards requirements.
- Collaborate with manufacturing and production teams to transition designs from concept through prototype and full-scale production.

## Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
- 5 years of experience in aircraft design, configuration layout, or airframe integration.
- Proficiency with CAD modeling tools such as NX or SolidWorks.
- Basic understanding of aircraft aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion-system integration.
- Ability to perform basic FEA, CFD, or weight-and-balance assessments.
- Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, cross-functional collaboration, communication, and technical documentation skills.
- Active Secret clearance.

## Nice-to-haves
- Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with UAV design or aircraft conceptual design.
- Familiarity with aircraft performance modeling, stability and control, and flight dynamics.
- Experience with rapid prototyping, wind tunnel testing, or flight hardware development.
- Knowledge of manufacturing techniques, composite materials, and aerospace structural design principles.
- Experience in a fast-paced technology startup or defense environment.
- Active TS clearance or ability to obtain a TS clearance.

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