Engineer I, Mechanical Test (R5207)

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 Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

Join a high-impact mechanical test team developing next-generation aircraft that support the safety of service members and civilians. In this role, you'll help evaluate mechanical systems through hands-on testing, data collection, and analysis while working alongside experienced engineers to improve product performance and reliability.

We are seeking an entry-level Structures / Mechanical Test Engineer with a strong mechanical engineering foundation and interest in structural testing, instrumentation, hydraulic systems, CAD, and automation. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build experience designing test equipment, executing mechanical tests, and contributing to hardware development in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

What you'll do:

• Support the design, assembly, and operation of mechanical test fixtures and systems involving hydraulic actuation, mechanical linkages, and sensor instrumentation.
• Assist with hydraulic system integration, setup, and troubleshooting under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Execute mechanical, structural, and environmental test plans while ensuring accurate and repeatable data collection.
• Install, wire, and calibrate sensors including load cells, pressure transducers, strain gauges, accelerometers, and displacement sensors.
• Develop and maintain Python scripts to support test automation, data processing, and visualization.
• Analyze test results, investigate unexpected behaviors, and document findings in clear technical reports.
• Collaborate with mechanical, systems, electrical, and manufacturing engineers to support product development and validation.
• Design simple test fixtures, adapters, and components using CAD while learning best practices for manufacturability and safety.
• Support Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to compare analytical predictions with physical test results.
• Assist with fabrication, assembly, and testing of metallic and composite components.
• Help maintain laboratory equipment, improve test processes, and contribute to a safe working environment.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 0-2 years of professional experience in mechanical engineering, testing, product development, or a related field (internships, co-ops, research, or project experience are welcomed).
• Familiarity with CAD software such as Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar.
• Basic understanding of mechanical systems, structural mechanics, and engineering fundamentals.
• Exposure to Python or another programming language for data analysis or automation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a willingness to learn new tools and technologies.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate in a team environment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Internship, research, Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, capstone, or other hands-on engineering project experience involving mechanical testing or hardware development.
• Exposure to hydraulic or pneumatic systems.
• Familiarity with strain gauges, load cells, pressure sensors, or other instrumentation.
• Experience with laboratory testing, data acquisition systems, or experimental methods.
• Exposure to Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• Experience working with composite materials through coursework, research, or project work.

$76,000 - $114,000 a year

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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.

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.