Staff Engineer, Ground Vehicle Advance Manufacturing

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: We are seeking a Staff Ground Vehicle Advance  uyoiypoiManufacturing Engineer to support the development and production of advanced ground mobility and vehicle systems. This role focuses on mechanical and integrated systems including chassis, suspension, braking, hydraulics, pneumatics, and mobility platforms.  The ideal candidate has strong experience in automotive, heavy vehicle, or defense vehicle manufacturing environments and is comfortable supporting both prototype and production operations. 

What you'll do:

Lead manufacturing engineering activities for vehicle and mobility systems  

Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, tooling, work instructions, and production flows for: 

Chassis and structural assemblies  

Suspension and braking systems  

Wheels, axles, and driveline components  

Hydraulic and pneumatic systems  

Trailer and mobility platforms  

Support vehicle integration, testing, and production readiness activities  

Partner with design engineering to improve manufacturability, reliability, testability, and producibility 

Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions for manufacturing issues  

Develop work instructions, quality standards, and inspection methods  

Support supplier qualification, process validation, and production readiness reviews 

Lead DFM/DFA reviews and transition new products into manufacturing 

Define manufacturing standards, process controls, and acceptance criteria 

Support failure analysis and reliability improvement initiatives 

Collaborate with production, quality, supply chain, and test engineering teams 

Mentor junior manufacturing engineers 

Tools & skills:

MES & QMS systems

3DEXPERIENCE / Teamcenter (PLM) systems

Supplier manufacturing processes

5S/visual management

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Required qualifications:

7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in automotive, mobility, heavy equipment, or defense vehicle systems 

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field 

Experience in prototype manufacturing in a startup or rapid-growth environment. 

Experience with:  

Vehicle integration and assembly  

Hydraulics and pneumatics  

Chassis and braking systems  

Mechanical production systems 

Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and adapt to changing priorities. 

Knowledge of manufacturing process development and production scaling  

Strong understanding of DFM/DFA principles  

Experience with root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies  

Preferred qualifications:

Automotive OEM, defense vehicle, or off-road vehicle experience  

Experience supporting prototype-to-production transitions  

Knowledge of welding, fabrication, and structural assembly processes  

Familiarity with lean manufacturing and production optimization 

Experience with ERP/MES systems and manufacturing data analysis 

Strong project management skills, including experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines 

Knowledge of quality standards, such as AS9100 or ISO 9001 

Proficiency in CAD software

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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 …