Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI's technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
We are seeking a highly experienced Mechatronics Engineer with 8–10 years of hands-on experience in product design and development, ideally but not necessarily within the optical or precision instrumentation industry. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in integrating mechanical, electronic, and software systems into complex optical products. This role will involve leading the design and development of high-performance optical devices from concept through production, ensuring precision, reliability, and manufacturability.
What you'll do:
* Product Development & Design:
* Lead the mechanical and electromechanical design of complex optical systems.
* Collaborate closely with optical, electrical, and software engineers and suppliers to ensure system-level integration and performance optimization.
* Conduct tolerance analysis, thermal and vibration studies to ensure optical alignment stability and reliability.
* Support prototype build, testing, and design iteration cycles.
* Systems Integration:
* Design and integrate sensors, control systems, and embedded components to enable automated alignment, focusing, and calibration of optical systems.
* Develop and refine feedback and control algorithms for mechatronic subsystems.
* Project Leadership:
* Serve as a technical lead in cross-functional teams, guiding junior engineers and technicians.
* Define system requirements, design specifications, and validation protocols for mechatronic subsystems.
* Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to support design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-assembly (DFA) initiatives.
* Testing & Validation:
* Design and oversee qualification testing of mechatronic components and optical assemblies.
* Implement quality and reliability assessments throughout the design cycle.
Required qualifications;
* Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
* Experience: 8–10 years of experience in product design and development, preferably within the optical, imaging, photonics, or precision instrumentation industries.
* Strong proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, or similar).
* Familiarity with optical system design principles including opto-mechanical alignment techniques.
* Experience in embedded systems integration and control loop tuning (e.g., PID, model-based control).
$158,000 - $236,000 a year
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.