Staff Engineer, Survivability (R5885)

Shield AI · Seattle, Washington · Sep 22, 2026

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: 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 Lead 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 deep 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. #LI-AD6 #LD 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...

Responsibilities:

• 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.

Requirements:

• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.

• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of related 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 (TS/SCI preferred).

• Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

• 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.

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Company: Shield AI
Location: Seattle, Washington
More jobs in Seattle
Job Type: Full Time Employee
Category: X-BAT Engineering - MEG
Posted: Sep 22, 2026
Source: Original posting ↗

Staff Engineer, Survivability (R5885)

Responsibilities:

Requirements:

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