Engineering Manager, Mechanical Systems jobs in United States
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Shield AI · 1 day ago

Engineering Manager, Mechanical Systems

positionSan Diego, CA
timeFull-time
remoteOnsite
seniorityMid, Senior Level
money$153K/yr - $229K/yr
date7+ years exp

Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The Engineering Manager of Mechanical Systems will lead a team of engineers in developing mechanical systems for next-generation autonomous UAV platforms, collaborating across engineering sites and mentoring junior engineers.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Autonomous VehiclesDronesMachine LearningNational Security
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H1B Sponsor Likelynote

Responsibilities

Support design reviews by providing feedback and signoff
Scope resources to support aircraft development
Assign individuals to projects and rebalance needs as required
Create processes and documentation that guide the development of systems

Qualification

Mechanical/Aerospace EngineeringCAD skillsKinematic analysisLeadership experienceStructural analysisFEA analysisGD&TMaterials selectionUAVsElectro-mechanical actuatorsFMEA proficiencyHands-on machine shop experienceRTCA DO-160 experienceStartup environment adaptabilityWork independentlyMentorship

Required

B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering
Demonstrable and successful leadership experience including hiring, budgeting
7+ years in mechanical or mechanism design
Strong CAD skills (NX preferred)
Kinematic analysis and optimization
Structural analysis utilizing hand calculations and finite element methods
FEA analysis: Modal, non-linear and linear, buckling, fatigue
GD&T and tolerance stack-ups for mechanical systems
Materials selection inclusive of alloys, heat treatments, allowables, and finishes
Ability to work independently and lead in fast-paced, cross-functional teams
A demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to others

Preferred

Experience with UAVs, aircraft, or robotic systems
Familiarity with electro-mechanical actuators
Proficiency in FMEA, DOE, and root cause analysis
Hands-on machine shop or mechanic experience (professional or hobby)
RTCA DO-160, structural, or actuated mechanism testing experience
Ability to thrive in startup, R&D, or defense innovation environments

Benefits

Bonus
Benefits
Equity
Temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Company

Shield AI

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Glassdoor3.7
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Shield AI is a deep-tech company that focuses on developing AI-powered systems to enhance the safety of service members and civilians.
dateFounded in 2015
location
San Diego, California, USA
people-size1001-5000 employees
web-link
http://www.shield.ai

H1B Sponsorship

Shield AI has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (3)
2021 (1)

Funding

Current Stage
Late Stage
Total Funding
$1.31B
Key Investors
Hercules CapitalUS Innovative Technology FundSnowpoint Ventures
2025-03-06Series F· $240M
2023-12-29Debt Financing· $200M
2023-10-31Series F· $300M

Leadership Team

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Gary Steele
Chief Executive Officer
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Brandon Tseng
Co-Founder
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Recent News

GlobeNewswire
Artificial Intelligence in Defense and Security Global Research Report 2025: Market to Reach $22.75 Billion by 2029 - Long-term Forecast to 2034
2026-01-07
Techmeme
A look at military tech startup Shield AI, recently valued at $5.6B, and its new CEO Gary Steele, who aims to grow annual revenue from $300M to $1B by 2028 (Jessica Mathews/Fortune)
2025-12-22
Fortune
Shield AI took its drones from the ‘Batcave’ to the battlefield. Now the $5.6 billion defense-tech startup’s new CEO says it’s at an inflection point
2025-12-21
Company data provided by crunchbase