Staff Avionics Engineer - Electrical Systems

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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. 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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

Shield AI is seeking a Staff or Sr. Staff Avionics Engineer, Electrical Systems to lead the design, development, integration, and verification of aircraft electrical systems for a new advanced autonomous aircraft. This role will own assigned electrical systems from requirements definition and architecture through component selection, detailed design, aircraft integration, ground and flight test, and production support.

This engineer will translate vehicle and avionics requirements into reliable electrical designs spanning power distribution, power conversion, circuit protection, grounding and bonding, wiring, and equipment interfaces. Working closely with Avionics, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, Flight Controls, Propulsion, Manufacturing, and Test teams, this individual will ensure electrical hardware integrates successfully across the aircraft.

The ideal candidate combines strong electrical engineering fundamentals with practical experience delivering flight hardware. They can independently lead complex subsystem development, resolve challenging integration issues, guide suppliers, and mentor engineers while maintaining disciplined requirements, documentation, and verification practices.

What you'll do:

• Own the requirements, architecture, design, and verification of assigned aircraft electrical systems, including power distribution, conversion, protection, switching, grounding, bonding, and electrical interfaces for avionics and vehicle equipment.

• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, interface control documents, equipment specifications, wiring requirements, and electrical load analyses. Evaluate operating modes, power budgets, voltage drop, transient behavior, fault conditions, and design margins to guide component selection and system sizing.

• Lead electrical integration across avionics, sensors, communications, actuation, propulsion interfaces, and supporting aircraft systems. Partner with mechanical and harness engineering teams to define connector selections, pin assignments, routing constraints, shielding, separation, and installation requirements.

• Define and execute verification activities from component testing through aircraft integration, ground testing, and flight test support. Develop test procedures, troubleshoot electrical anomalies, investigate failures, and implement corrective actions supported by analysis and test evidence.

• Lead technical reviews and supplier coordination for assigned systems, manage interfaces and engineering changes, and support manufacturing and production troubleshooting. Mentor engineers and improve design practices that strengthen reliability, maintainability, testability, and delivery quality.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline, with 7 or more years of relevant experience developing avionics, aircraft electrical systems, or comparable complex electrical hardware.

• Demonstrated ownership of electrical subsystem development through requirements definition, design, hardware integration, and verification, including experience with aircraft power distribution, power conversion, circuit protection, and equipment interfaces.

• Strong understanding of electrical load analysis, voltage drop, wire and connector sizing, grounding and bonding, shielding, electromagnetic compatibility, and fault isolation. Experience developing electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface definitions, and component specifications.

• Practical experience integrating and troubleshooting electrical hardware using oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, electronic loads, and related laboratory equipment. Ability to develop test plans and interpret results at component, subsystem, and integrated system levels.

• Demonstrated ability to independently resolve complex technical problems, coordinate across engineering disciplines and suppliers, and communicate design decisions and risks clearly. Experience maintaining requirements traceability, configuration control, and verification documentation.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• Experience developing electrical systems for manned aircraft, autonomous aircraft, uncrewed aircraft, advanced aviation platforms, or other flight critical aerospace applications, including ground and flight test support.

• Experience with battery systems, generators, power electronics, redundant power architectures, load shedding, power sequencing, and electrical fault detection and protection strategies.

• Familiarity with applicable aerospace environmental qualification, electrical power quality, electromagnetic compatibility, and airworthiness practices.

• Experience using electrical design tools, along with requirements and configuration management systems. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

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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.

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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.