Shield AISenior Mechanical Engineer, Systems Integration
Shield AI is hiring a Senior Mechanical Engineer, Systems Integration in Seattle, United States. It pays $140k-$200k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Shield AI.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include mechanical engineering, systems integration and aircraft design.
- Level classifies it as a senior role.
- Level lists 654 other open roles at Shield AI.
AI in this role
Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead complex aircraft subsystem integration and manufacturing support at Shield AI.
Job Description:
As a Senior Systems Integration Engineer, you will lead the design and integration of complex aircraft systems from concept through production. You will own subsystem-level integration activities, including installation design, equipment packaging, routing, interface definition, and manufacturing support, while ensuring compatibility across structures, avionics, propulsion, and other aircraft systems.
You will serve as the technical lead for integration work statements, coordinating with multidisciplinary engineering teams to resolve integration challenges, drive design decisions, and deliver robust, manufacturable solutions that meet program objectives.
The ideal candidate is an experienced mechanical engineer who combines strong aircraft design fundamentals with systems-level thinking. They have demonstrated success leading subsystem integration efforts, proactively identifying technical risks, mentoring junior engineers, and collaborating effectively across engineering disciplines to deliver integrated aircraft solutions.
What You'll Do
- Lead the mechanical integration of complete aircraft subsystems from concept through production, ensuring compatibility across structural, electrical, avionics, propulsion, and manufacturing interfaces.
- Develop installation architecture for complex aircraft systems, including subsystem packaging, equipment mounting, and routing of electrical and fluid systems.
- Lead the design of complex machined, composite, fabricated, and sheet metal assemblies requiring advanced engineering judgment.
- Develop and review installation drawings, assembly documentation, and configuration baselines to ensure design consistency and production readiness.
- Perform advanced tolerance analyses, structural hand calculations, and engineering trade studies supporting design decisions.
- Coordinate subsystem integration activities during prototype builds, aircraft assembly, and production.
- Mentor junior engineers in CAD modeling, GD&T application, installation design, and engineering best practices.
- Coordinate suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve technical issues affecting integration, manufacturability, schedule, or cost.
- Support technical planning, schedule development, and project execution for assigned work packages."
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in aircraft, aerospace, defense, robotics, or complex electromechanical system development.
- Demonstrated experience designing machined, fabricated, composite, and sheet metal components from concept through production release.
- Demonstrated experience leading mechanical integration of aircraft subsystems or complex assemblies.
- Advanced CAD proficiency with NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, or equivalent.
- Experience managing engineering data, product structures, Bills of Material (BOMs), and drawing releases using PLM systems such as Teamcenter, Windchill, or 3DEXPERIENCE.
- Working knowledge of aircraft installation practices, subsystem packaging, interface management, equipment mounting, and maintainability considerations.
- Experience developing installation layouts and routing solutions for EWIS, hydraulic, fuel, pneumatic, ECS, or similar mechanical systems.
- Experience developing part drawings, assembly drawings, and installation drawings.
- Working knowledge of EWIS, hydraulic, fuel, pneumatic, or ECS routing design.
- Strong knowledge of GD&T, ASME Y14.5, tolerance stack-up, and drawing release processes.
- Experience supporting manufacturing, prototype builds, production issue resolution, or MRB activity.
- Ability to coordinate across Manufacturing, Stress, Systems, Avionics, Supply Chain, and Test teams."
Preferred Qualifications
- Aircraft integration experience on UAV, military, commercial, eVTOL, or autonomous aircraft programs.
- Experience performing structural hand calculations, margin assessments, or preliminary stress analysis.
- Experience with FEA including static, modal, vibration, fatigue, or thermal analysis.
- Hands-on experience supporting build, production, testing, or hardware validation activities.
- Experience managing technical scope, schedule, risk, or supplier coordination for subsystem work packages.
- Familiarity with aircraft-level requirements, interface control, and configuration management."
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.
How we rate this
Senior Mechanical Engineer, Systems Integration at Shield AI rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where mechanical engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where systems integration was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where aircraft design was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where tolerance analysis was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where cad was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Mechanical Engineering, Systems Integration, Aircraft Design, Tolerance Analysis, and CAD. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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