• Lead the design and development of structural components and assemblies for Shield AI’s next-gen UAV platform, with a focus on primary and secondary aircraft structures. • Own the structural design lifecycle including concept generation, CAD modeling, detail design, and drawing release, ensuring high quality and traceability. • Use FEA tools to perform and guide linear and nonlinear structural analysis, stress analysis, and margin assessment under operational loads and edge cases. • Work closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless system integration across airframe and subsystem interfaces. • Support and lead efforts in material selection, focusing on composites, aluminum alloys, and advanced manufacturing approaches suited to mission and environment. • Participate in and lead design reviews, architecture discussions, and technical decision-making forums related to structural systems. • Oversee the design and execution of structural validation testing, including coupon-level, subcomponent, and full-system testing. • Guide the development of design documentation, analysis reports, interface definitions, and verification plans in compliance with MIL-STD, FAA, and internal Shield AI standards. • Mentor junior engineers and review team members’ work for technical rigor, performance, and manufacturability. • Collaborate with the manufacturing and flight test teams to transition designs from engineering to production and field deployment. • Identify opportunities to improve design processes, configuration management, and team workflows for increased engineering velocity and design quality.