Staff Engineer, Hardware Product Development (R3898)
Shield AI
Other Engineering, Product
San Diego, CA, USA · Oregon, USA · San Diego, CA, USA
Posted on Oct 4, 2025
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 aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine 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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
Hivemind Platform Reference Implementations provides customers ready to fly platforms that are Hivemind compatible and enables internal teams to develop, validate, and verify the Hivemind SDK across a range of heterogeneous hardware platforms.
As a Hardware Product Development Engineer, you will lead the hardware design, development, and production of reference hardware platform implementations. This role is responsible for all aspects of the hardware life cycle — from design and prototyping through procurement and manufacturing scale-up via contract manufacturers.
What you'll do:
- Design and develop hardware for reference platform implementations. Leverage commercial off-the-shelf components where possible.
- Identify and manage suppliers, oversee supply chain logistics, and maintain inventory of hardware components.
- Build and repair hardware prototypes; collaborate with contract manufacturers to scale production.
- Perform verification and validation of hardware prototypes to ensure reliability and quality.
- Own hardware documentation, bill of materials, and change management processes.
- Work closely with software engineers to ensure hardware platforms meet system-level requirements (software handled separately by other teams).
- Work with Test Team to deploy the use of reference platform implementations for maturing the technological readiness of the Hivemind SDK.
Required qualifications:
- Strong experience in hardware design, rapid prototyping, manufacturing processes, and product life cycle management.
- Proven record of delivering products on time.
- Experience with supply chain management and vendor relationships.
- Strong troubleshooting and repair skills for hardware systems.
- Proven ability to work across disciplines (manufacturing, engineering, operations).
- Excellent organizational and communication skills.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience in robotic platform design
- Experience in sensor selection
- Experience in electrical engineering
#LI-DM2
#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 speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
###
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, color, 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.