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Shield AI

Posted 5 months ago

Open

Senior Staff Engineer, Survivability (R4606)

United StatesOn-siteFull-time

AI Summary

A Survivability Engineer designs and optimizes low-observable features of autonomous aircraft to reduce radar, thermal, visual, and acoustic signatures, ensuring survivability in contested airspace.

About this role

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:

At Shield AI, we're building the most intelligent autonomous aircraft ever deployed. As we push the boundaries of what’s possible in contested environments, we are looking for a Survivability Engineer to shape and optimize the low observable (LO) performance of our next-generation autonomous aircraft.

This role is ideal for an experienced engineer with expertise in radar cross-section (RCS) shaping, LO materials, and electromagnetic signature modeling who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. You’ll work across disciplines to ensure our aircraft can survive, evade, and complete missions in highly contested airspace.

What you'll do:

  • Design and optimize low observable (LO) features across the airframe focusing on shaping, edge treatments, radar-absorbing materials, and subsystem integration.
  • Conduct modeling and simulation of electromagnetic signatures using industry-standard tools such as HFSS, CST Studio Suite, Xpatch, and SENTRi.
  • Work with multidisciplinary teams in propulsion, avionics, structures, and AI to ensure survivability is baked into the system architecture from day one.
  • Lead or support signature testing efforts, including indoor and outdoor RCS range tests, validation campaigns, and supplier-level hardware evaluations.
  • Translate mission threats and requirements into survivability features that address RCS, thermal, visual, and acoustic observability constraints.
  • Partner with materials scientists to mature radar-absorbing coatings and structural RAM for manufacturability and field durability.
  • Support internal and customer assessments, threat modeling reviews, and milestone decisions throughout the program lifecycle.

    • Required qualifications:

  • B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
  • 10+ years of hands-on experience in LO or survivability engineering, preferably on tactical aircraft, UAVs, or stealth systems.
  • Proficiency with EM simulation tools such as HFSS, CST, Xpatch, or SENTRi.
  • Strong understanding of RCS shaping principles, edge treatments, cavity suppression, and materials integration.
  • Practical experience with LO testing methods and RCS measurement equipment.
  • Familiarity with radar-absorbing materials (RAM), LO coatings, and structural LO trade studies.
  • Solid collaboration and communication skills with the ability to work across design, test, and manufacturing teams.
  • U.S. Citizenship and active Secret clearance required.

    • Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience with military UAV platforms or 5th-gen fighter programs.
  • Background in survivability analysis in contested environments (e.g., IADS, radar networks).
  • Familiarity with platform CONOPS, threat modeling, and mission-level survivability assessments.
  • Ability to contribute to the design, test, and fielding of a fully integrated LO platform.
  • Active Top Secret or SCI clearance.

    • Skills

    CST Studio SuiteEdge TreatmentsElectromagnetic Signature ModelingHFSSLow Observable (LO) MaterialsRadar-absorbing Materials (RAM)Radar Cross-section (RCS)RCS ShapingSENTRiXpatch

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