Air Vehicle Lead, Chief Engineer

🏢 Shield AI · 📍 Seattle, Washington · 💼 onsite · ⏰ Full Time Employee 💰 $212,320 - $318,480 / yr

⚡ Direct Talent Broker Referral

Why apply through CandidatesReach?

✔ Tailored Executive Endorsement Letter: Highlight your real strengths and verified background directly to hiring leads.

✔ Your Preferred Screening Terms: Choose between a 1-minute quick phone screen or scheduled email calendar.

✔ $500 Cash Hiring Bonus: Receive $500 direct cash reward after 30 days of active employment.

Position Summary & Responsibilities

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

Are you a passionate and innovative aerospace engineering leader looking to develop next-generation autonomous aircraft? Are you eager to make a positive difference in the world and work alongside mission-driven, values-focused teammates? Shield AI is just the place for you.

As the Air Vehicle Lead for a new aircraft program you will serve as the senior technical leader responsible for the design, development, integration, and maturation of the air vehicle. You will own the technical integrity of the aircraft and lead the multidisciplinary engineering effort required to take the vehicle from requirements and architecture through detailed design, build, ground test, flight test, and production.

This is a highly technical, hands-on leadership role. You will work across aerodynamics, flight sciences, structures, mechanical systems, propulsion, avionics, electrical systems, flight controls, manufacturing, and test to ensure the aircraft performs as an integrated system. Y

🎯 Candidate Preparation Guide For Shield AI Applicants

Key Role Competencies & Evaluation Highlights

Key Role Focus:

Testing raw first-principles engineering capability, intense mission-alignment with national defense, and high tolerance for high-stakes failure.

📋 Preparation Priorities (Key Areas to Clarify):

1. Academic or theoretical bias with no appreciation for hardware-in-the-loop and edge-computing constraints.
2. Lack of genuine conviction regarding the national security mission.
3. Defensiveness when receiving intense, direct technical critique from interviewers.

✨ Recommended Role Alignment Hook:

I apply first-principles engineering to build robust, edge-computed AI systems designed to operate flawlessly in contested, high-stakes environments.

🔒 Free Candidate Preparation Access

Unlock Preparation Priorities & Alignment Hook

🤝 Talent Broker Referral · $500 Bonus Included

Apply for Air Vehicle Lead, Chief Engineer

Setup your contact terms & referral note to get recommended directly to the hiring lead at Shield AI.

⚡ Continue with Google (Instant Setup)

or with email

Already have an account? Sign in here