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Shield AI

Deputy Chief Engineer, X-BAT

Seattle, Washington$250k–$350kfull time employeemidAdded today

About this role

Shield AI seeks an experienced Deputy Chief Engineer to lead technical execution on X-BAT, an autonomous combat aircraft development program. You'll serve as primary technical deputy to the Air Vehicle Lead, maintaining system integrity and driving multidisciplinary engineering integration across all major aircraft domains while managing risk, schedule, and performance.

What you'll do

  • Serve as primary technical deputy to the Air Vehicle Lead and act on their behalf for engineering decisions
  • Maintain technical baseline integrity including requirements, architecture, interfaces, configuration, and airworthiness evidence
  • Lead day-to-day integration across aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, avionics, flight controls, software, autonomy, and manufacturing
  • Drive aircraft-level technical decisions and trade studies balancing performance, safety, cost, schedule, and mission requirements
  • Establish and manage technical-risk processes with early identification, accountability, mitigation plans, and retirement strategies
  • Lead technical reviews, ground/flight test planning, root-cause investigations, and communicate status to leadership and customers

What they're looking for

  • Aircraft systems integration and design
  • Technical leadership and multidisciplinary team management
  • Systems engineering and requirements management
  • Flight test and verification planning
  • Propulsion, flight controls, and autonomy systems knowledge
  • Risk management and technical decision-making
  • Executive and customer communication
  • Configuration and baseline management
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Shield AI

Shield AI develops autonomous defense aircraft platforms, including systems like the V-BAT, requiring sophisticated hardware integration and testing. The company is hiring mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and supplier development specialists to design aircraft systems, develop test solutions, and manage aerospace supply chains.

View all jobs at Shield AI

Likely interview questions

  • Tell us about a complex aircraft-level problem you investigated and resolved during development, integration, or flight test.
  • Describe your experience taking an aerospace system from requirements through flight test and production, and what technical challenges emerged.
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