Air Vehicle Lead, Chief Engineer

Job overview

The Air Vehicle Lead, Chief Engineer role is onsite in Seattle, WA, with a salary range of $212,320–$318,480 per year. Shield AI develops intelligent systems, including autonomous aircraft and autonomy software, to protect service members and civilians. The lead owns the aircraft’s technical integrity and directs multidisciplinary engineering from requirements and architecture through design, build, integration, testing, and production. The role drives system-level decisions, manages technical risk, and coordinates engineering disciplines and suppliers to deliver the aircraft program.

What you'll do

• Own air-vehicle architecture, technical performance, integration, and design integrity
• direct multidisciplinary engineering
• lead system-level trades and design execution
• participate in design reviews, problem solving, investigations, and testing
• identify and resolve technical risks
• drive build-test-learn cycles and system integration
• partner with manufacturing, supply chain, quality, operations, and suppliers
• mentor engineers and technical leaders.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

air vehicle lead

chief engineer

seattle wa

shield ai

aerospace engineering

autonomous aircraft

aircraft development

systems integration

flight test

technical leadership

security clearance

$212,320–$318,480

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Regular full-time employee package includes bonus, benefits, and equity.

Why this role

Senior hands-on technical leadership role requiring 15+ years of aircraft development experience; ability to obtain and maintain the program’s required security clearance.

About the employer

Shield AI is hiring for this role. Industry: Engineering Services. Sector: 54.