Senior Engineering Manager @ Shield AI

Introduction to Shield AI

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world’s best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown a fighter jet (F-16), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (V-BAT), and a quadcopter (Nova). The company has offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington DC and abroad. Shield AI’s products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies.

The Aerodynamics and Performance team focuses on researching and developing state-of-the-art, high-performance vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. As the Aerodynamics and Performance Manager, you’ll lead an agile team grounded in first principles to push the boundaries of the state-of-the-art.

What you’ll do:

Establish processes to streamline workflow and maximize group efficiency
Establish quality standards to ensure consistent excellence for all work products
Provide training and career development for group members
Manage team performance and put into place performance plans to help develop team members.
Mentor engineers and guide development of new aircraft configurations. Oversee aerodynamic performance analysis across a large array of air vehicle designs via CAD, low fidelity tools, CFD, ground test, wind tunnel test, and flight test experiments
Collaborate with and present findings to other internal functional teams and program-based teams

Required qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree with 5-8 years professional experience related to aircraft development or aerodynamic design
Experience partnering with a multidisciplinary engineering team, including mechanical, electrical, propulsion, software, and AI disciplines
Solid understanding of aerodynamic fundamentals, CFD techniques, and wind tunnel testing
Experience with aerodynamic tools and techniques, e.g. vortex-lattice, panel-method, etc.
Experience with Pointwise or similar CFD software tools
Experience with Matlab or Python for data analysis Familiarity with translating aerodynamic analyses into workable design solutions for flight vehicles
Familiarity with lofting/surfacing tools in SolidWorks (or equivalent CAD software tools) for generating water-tight geometries
Demonstrated track record of assuming ownership over processes and delivering outstanding outcomes
Proven track record of successfully shipping products, showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed client expectations in a fast-paced environment
Proactively identify opportunities for improvement within software development projects, demonstrating initiative to propose and implement innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and overall project success and V-Bat reliability
Demonstrated adaptability, agility, and the ability to innovate under pressure to meet dynamic project demands and drive successful outcomes.

Preferred qualifications:

Master’s degree or a PhD
Experience with functional engineering management
Experience with engineering project management
Proven background in thriving within fast-paced environments, particularly within startup or R&D settings

#LI-AC1 #LE

Total package details:

Regular employee positions: Salary within range listed above + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee positions: Hourly within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

*Interns/Military Fellows/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity

Actual 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.

If you’re interested in being part of our team, apply now!

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.

What you’ll do:

Required qualifications:

Preferred qualifications:

6 month growth

1 year growth

2 year growth

Benefits