Staff Engineer, Mechanical - Harness Design
Shield AI· Defense tech· Mar 25, 2026 · 7mo agoPosted 216 days ago
Seattle, Washington
In office
Full-time
Staff
$166K–$300K
8+ years exp
Before you apply
Ghost Signal:
Open since March 25, 2026 — 216 days, and still accepting applications.
Job description
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:
Shield AI is seeking a Staff Harness Design Engineer with deep expertise in harness 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 wire harnesses and cable assemblies that are critical to mission success.
What you'll do:
Lead design of wire harnesses and cable assemblies for autonomous UAVs
Own harness design process: concept, 3D CAD routing, analysis, and drawing release
Perform electrical and environmental analysis for harness reliability
Prototype and test harnesses in dynamic, mission-critical environments
Collaborate with avionics, systems, and manufacturing teams for integration
Mentor engineers and drive harness design best practices
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering
8+ years in wire harness design for aerospace or robotics
Strong CAD skills (NX or CATIA preferred) for 3D harness modeling
Experience using EWIS design software (Zuken, Capital, etc)
Expertise in GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards
Experience with electrical schematics and connector selection
Hands-on experience with harness fabrication or testing
Ability to work independently and lead in fast-paced, cross-functional teams
A demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to others
Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience designing harnesses for UAVs, aircraft, or spacecraft
Familiarity with EWIS compliance and RTCA DO-160 testing
Proficiency in failure mode analysis (FMEA) and root cause investigations
Knowledge of Teamcenter or similar PLM systems
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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