Principal Loads Engineer (R3263)
Shield AI
United States
Posted on Feb 20, 2026
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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
Shield AI is seeking a Principal Loads Engineer to serve as the technical authority for aircraft loads and aeroelastic analysis across advanced UAV platforms. In this role, you will define and lead the full-vehicle loads strategy—establishing the methodologies, assumptions, and validation approaches that govern structural sizing, aeroelastic stability, airworthiness, and flight performance.
You will operate as a subject-matter expert in aerodynamic and structural loads derivation, influencing aircraft architecture and control strategies while ensuring loads traceability from concept through flight test and certification. This role is ideal for engineers with 12–15+ years of experience who have led loads development on complex aerospace programs and are comfortable setting technical direction, mentoring engineers, and partnering closely with program and engineering leadership.
What you'll do:
- Own and define the full-vehicle loads and aeroelastic analysis strategy from clean-sheet development through production and flight test
- Establish and govern aerodynamic and structural load envelopes, including maneuver, gust, landing, ground, and mission-driven load cases
- Lead both quasi-static and dynamic loads analyses, including transient and coupled aeroelastic assessments
- Serve as the technical authority for V-n diagrams, load factors, and structural load path definition across the aircraft
- Define and review loads modeling approaches using NASTRAN, FEMAP, MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or equivalent environments
- Drive aeroelastic stability evaluations including divergence, flutter, control reversal, and load alleviation strategies
- Partner closely with Aero and GNC teams to ensure loads assumptions align with flight control laws, mission profiles, and aircraft performance objectives
- Establish traceability standards across loads models, ICDs, FEA inputs, and certification artifacts
- Define and oversee loads correlation strategy, including strain gauge placement, instrumentation planning, and in-flight data reconciliation
- Review and approve loads deliverables for design reviews, compliance documentation, and executive technical decision forums
- Mentor and technically guide loads and aeroelastic engineers across the organization
- Develop and standardize loads methodologies, automation frameworks, and internal tools to scale capability across programs
Required qualifications:
- B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- 12+ years of experience performing aircraft loads and aeroelastic analysis on manned or unmanned platforms
- Demonstrated technical leadership on complex aerospace programs, including ownership of loads strategy or methodology
- Deep expertise in aerodynamic loads derivation, flight envelope development, and structural load path definition
- Advanced proficiency with industry-standard loads and FEA tools (NASTRAN, FEMAP, ANSYS, MATLAB, Python, Simulink, or equivalent)
- Strong understanding of aeroelastic stability phenomena including flutter, divergence, and control reversal
- Extensive experience supporting both structural design and flight test with validated load predictions
- Experience presenting loads rationale and technical tradeoffs to senior engineering leadership
- Excellent cross-functional collaboration and technical communication skills
Preferred qualifications:
- Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline
- Experience on UAV, eVTOL, or tactical military aircraft programs
- Familiarity with MIL-A-8860, FAR Part 23/25, or other certification loads standards
- Experience developing load alleviation strategies or adaptive control-informed loads methodologies
- Track record of building internal tools, automation pipelines, or standardized loads frameworks
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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.
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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, 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.
209197 - 313795 USD a year