Shield AI
deep-tech
Director,Structures
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“Director, Structures at Shield AI. Skills: aerostructures strategy, architecture, development, integration, scaling of advanced aircraft structures, aerospace structural engineering leadership. Lead the aerostructures organization for the X-BAT program, including design, analysis, integration, testing, and certification strategy. Drive development of lightweight, manufacturable, survivable aircraft structures optimized for autonomous combat aircraft operations”
What You'll Achieve.
deliver integrated aircraft solutions; technical excellence; scalable production environments
Industry & Context.
solving complex problems
Ability to obtain and maintain a U. S. security clearance
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field, 12+ years of aerospace structural engineering experience, including leadership responsibility on advanced aircraft programs, Deep expertise in aircraft primary structures, composites, metallic design, structural analysis, and integration, Experience leading teams through full aircraft development cycles from conceptual design through flight test and production, understanding of aircraft loads, stress analysis, fatigue, durability, and structural substantiation methodologies, Experience collaborating across highly integrated aerospace development organizations, Proven ability to recruit, develop, and scale high-performing engineering teams, Experience operating in fast-paced development environments with aggressive technical schedules, Ability to obtain and maintain a U. S. security clearance
Nice to Have
Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline, Experience with autonomous aircraft, tactical aviation, unmanned systems, or defense aerospace platforms, Expertise in composite airframe manufacturing and high-rate production methodologies, Background supporting low observable, survivability, or expeditionary aircraft design considerations, Familiarity with military airworthiness standards and defense acquisition environments, Experience supporting prototype-to-production transitions in venture-backed or high-growth aerospace organizations
What You'll Do.
Lead the aerostructures organization for the X-BAT program
and certification strategy
Drive development of lightweight
survivable aircraft structures optimized for autonomous combat aircraft operations
Establish engineering processes
configuration management
and structural development roadmaps across the program lifecycle
Oversee development and validation of composite and metallic airframe structures
including primary load-bearing assemblies
Build and mentor a world-class aerostructures engineering team capable of rapid execution and technical excellence
Support transition from development programs into scalable production environments
Drive root-cause analysis and corrective action efforts for structural
and flight-test findings
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Partner closely with flight sciences, propulsion, avionics, manufacturing, autonomy, flight test, and supply chain teams to deliver integrated aircraft solutions; Experience collaborating across highly integrated aerospace development organizations
Communication Scope
Present technical reviews, program risks, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and external stakeholders
Process & Methodology
program lifecycle management, structural development roadmaps
Full Job Description
## Description Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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 was founded to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. We are building the world’s best AI pilot and the aircraft that enable autonomy at scale. Our technology operates in complex, contested environments where GPS and communications may be denied, degraded, or unavailable. The technology we build demands cross-functional teaming and collaborative execution to solve the hardest problems in autonomy, aerospace engineering, and robotics. Engineers at Shield AI do not work in silos — they work shoulder-to-shoulder across disciplines to rapidly move from concept to flight-ready systems deployed in the real world. X-BAT represents the next generation of autonomous airpower: a runway-independent, AI-piloted aircraft designed to execute missions in highly contested environments. Powered by Hivemind, Shield AI’s combat-proven autonomy stack, X-BAT combines long-range performance, survivability, and autonomous mission execution into a scalable operational platform. As Director of Aerostructures for X-BAT, you will lead the strategy, architecture, development, integration, and scaling of advanced aircraft structures across one of the most ambitious autonomous aviation programs in the industry. You will oversee multidisciplinary structural engineering teams responsible for metallic and composite primary structures, subsystem integration, manufacturability, structural analysis, and flight-worthy execu
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