Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Shield AI is seeking a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer with deep expertise in mechanism design to support the development of our next-generation autonomous UAV platform. In this high-ownership role, you will lead the architecture, design, and development of precision mechanical systems and actuation mechanisms that are critical to mission success. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to create rugged, lightweight, and manufacturable mechanisms-ranging from landing gear to deployable payload systems-while delivering high performance in dynamic and harsh environments. You will design complex electro-mechanical mechanisms for autonomous aircraft, own the full design process, perform structural and kinematic calculations, prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs, collaborate with electrical, avionics, flight controls, and propulsion teams, mentor junior engineers and promote engineering excellence, and support pre-production builds, prototype integration, and ground/flight testing. This is an opportunity to design at the edge of innovation and autonomy, with real-world impact.