Staff Loads Engineer (R4954)

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: As a Staff Loads Engineer, you will lead the generation and analysis of structural and aerodynamic load cases that define the mechanical environment for the next-gen air vehicle. You’ll play a key role in shaping how loads flow through the aircraft structure—supporting structural sizing, airworthiness, aeroelastic stability, and flight performance.

This is a highly cross-functional role requiring deep technical knowledge of aeroelastic theory, loads derivation, and flight vehicle behavior. You’ll collaborate closely with structural design, aero, GNC, and test engineering teams to ensure load paths are accurate, traceable, and validated through test or simulation.

Own the development of aerodynamic and structural load envelopes for the full vehicle, from clean-sheet through flight test

Lead maneuver, gust, landing, and ground loads analyses, including both quasi-static and dynamic cases

Coordinate closely with GNC, aero, and structural teams to define load cases tied to mission profiles and flight control behaviors

Develop and validate loads models using tools like NASTRAN, FEMAP, MATLAB, or custom Python/Simulink scripts

Support the sizing and analysis of critical structural components through detailed load maps and V-n diagrams

Conduct aeroelastic stability assessments, including divergence and control reversal checks

Lead traceability of loads inputs/outputs across ICDs, FEA models, and design justification documents

Interface with test engineering to support strain gauge placement, instrumentation plans, and correlation of in-flight data

Author and present loads documentation for reviews, compliance, and technical buy-in

Support the long-term refinement of loads methodologies and automation across the aerostructures team

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

8+ years experience performing loads and aeroelastic analysis for aircraft (manned or unmanned)

Proficiency with loads modeling tools such as FEMAP, NASTRAN, MATLAB, or other relevant simulation environments

Strong understanding of aircraft flight envelopes, control surface effects, and structural load paths

Demonstrated experience supporting both design and test phases with accurate load predictions

Excellent documentation, cross-functional collaboration, and communication skills

Ability to get a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Experience on UAV, eVTOL, or tactical military platforms

Familiarity with MIL-A-8860, FAR Part 23/25 loads regulations, or similar certification standards

Knowledge of aeroelastic stability, load alleviation, and adaptive control

Experience developing internal tools or automation for loads generation and reporting

Active or previous DoD clearance (not required)

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