Staff Vibrations Test Engineer, Aerostructures (R2784)

Introduction to Shield AIFounded 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.

Job Description:Do you enjoy working in a dynamic lab environment and being part of a design team that will impact the safety of service members and civilians? If so, we want your help designing the next generation of products at Shield AI. The Mechanical Test team’s mission is to inform Shield AI hardware design by quantifying product performance and experience with custom measurement tools, and specialized analysis. We are looking for candidates that are passionate about engineering principles, curious about how things work, and are excited to grow and learn. You will be part of a collaborative team of multi-functional partners focused on the design performance of our products and ultimately the customer experience. Excellent communication skills coupled with an enthusiastic, respectful, and open-minded approach to solving, debating and brainstorming are welcomed. Success in this role will require creativity, organization, and energy tempered by a sincere willingness to listen, learn, and understand what is needed from your designs.

What you'll do:

• Apply a mix of technical and creative problem-solving skills to quickly design and build instrumented test and measurement systems. Supporting manual and automated data collection and analysis.
• Using measurement science and engineering analysis, gain an understanding of the static/dynamic inputs and system responses that drive design performance.
• Establish trust-based relationships with mechanical design teams and apply your expertise to help them quickly identify the best design path.
• Plan and perform testing projects such as ground/inflight vibration testing of aircraft, modal testing for finite element model validation, troubleshooting vibration problems, and strain gage testing of various structures.
• Write test plans, technical reports, and conduct in depth data reviews to inform design.
• Perform shaker table hardware testing and maintain up to date calibration requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering
• 5 + years of hands-on experience in vibrations testing of mechanical systems
• CAD modeling experience
• Experience in FEA principles
• Modal testing experience
• Exceptional written and verbal communication
• You have a demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.
• Demonstrated track record of assuming ownership over development processes and features 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.

Preferred qualifications:

• M.S., or Ph.D. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering
• Leadership experience
• Problem solving skills including root cause investigation, failure analysis, and DOE
• Proven background in thriving within fast-paced environments, particularly within startup or R&D settings.
• Demonstrated adaptability, agility, and the ability to innovate under pressure to meet dynamic project demands and drive successful outcomes.