Associate Engineer
US$85,000 – US$127,500 / yr base salary
Posted 12 Jan 2026
Advertised as “Associate Engineer, Manufacturing”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 0–3 yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- On-Site
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$85,000 – US$127,500 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
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:
We are seeking a motivated Associate Manufacturing Engineer to support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes for next-generation aerospace systems. In this role, you will partner with Design Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to transition products from design into production while supporting prototype builds, new product introduction (NPI), and production ramp-up.
This position may support one or more aircraft systems, including airframe structures, electrical systems, propulsion, mechanical systems, avionics, final integration, or ground support equipment. The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem solver who enjoys working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and contributing to the production of advanced aerospace products.
What you'll do:
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Develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes for assigned products or aircraft systems.
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Design and improve assembly tools, fixtures, jigs, and manufacturing aids to support safe, repeatable, and efficient production.
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Create and maintain work instructions, manufacturing process documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and process flows.
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Partner with Design Engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly efficiency, quality, and cost through Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFM/DFA).
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Support prototype builds, engineering builds, production readiness activities, and new product introductions.
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Troubleshoot manufacturing issues using root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
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Collaborate with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and Industrial Engineering to improve safety, quality, throughput, and productivity.