Manufacturing Jobs at Shield AI with Visa Sponsorship
Manufacturing jobs at Shield AI sit at the intersection of precision engineering and autonomous systems development, supporting production of AI-driven defense platforms. Shield AI has sponsored a range of visa types for technical staff, making it a viable target for international candidates with aerospace or defense manufacturing backgrounds.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking a Staff Equipment Engineer to lead the development, sustainment, and improvement of production equipment, test racks, and test cells supporting manufacturing and system-level testing. This role is highly hands-on and works closely with Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Design Engineering teams to ensure equipment reliability, scalability, and readiness for production. The ideal candidate has deep experience supporting complex electromechanical equipment in a production environment and driving improvements across safety, uptime, and throughput.
What you'll do:
- Own the technical lifecycle of production equipment, test racks, and test cells, from production readiness through sustainment and continuous improvement
- Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of equipment failures, downtime events, and test anomalies; implement corrective and preventive actions
- Drive equipment reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) improvements to support production goals
- Develop and maintain equipment documentation including schematics, BOMs, calibration plans, maintenance procedures, and operating instructions
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Test, and Quality teams to ensure equipment meets production, safety, and compliance requirements
- Support equipment upgrades, obsolescence management, and capacity expansion as production scales
- Define and execute equipment acceptance testing, validation, and handoff to production
- Mentor junior engineers and technicians and provide technical leadership across equipment-related efforts
- Manage external vendors and integrators as needed for equipment design, build, or modification
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
- 8+ years of experience supporting production equipment, test racks, or test cells in a manufacturing or test environment
- Strong hands-on experience with electromechanical systems, controls, instrumentation, and data acquisition
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex equipment issues across hardware, software, and controls domains
- Experience developing and maintaining technical documentation for production equipment
- Ability to work effectively on the factory floor and in cross-functional engineering teams
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting automated or semi-automated production and test equipment
- Familiarity with PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, or test software (e.g., LabVIEW, Python, or similar)
- Experience with equipment safety standards, lockout/tagout, and risk assessments
- Background in scaling equipment from prototype or low-rate production to higher-rate manufacturing
- Experience mentoring engineers or leading technical projects without direct authority
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $120,000 - $190,000 a year
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. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
INTRODUCTION
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.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking a Staff Equipment Engineer to lead the development, sustainment, and improvement of production equipment, test racks, and test cells supporting manufacturing and system-level testing. This role is highly hands-on and works closely with Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Design Engineering teams to ensure equipment reliability, scalability, and readiness for production. The ideal candidate has deep experience supporting complex electromechanical equipment in a production environment and driving improvements across safety, uptime, and throughput.
What you'll do:
- Own the technical lifecycle of production equipment, test racks, and test cells, from production readiness through sustainment and continuous improvement
- Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of equipment failures, downtime events, and test anomalies; implement corrective and preventive actions
- Drive equipment reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) improvements to support production goals
- Develop and maintain equipment documentation including schematics, BOMs, calibration plans, maintenance procedures, and operating instructions
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Test, and Quality teams to ensure equipment meets production, safety, and compliance requirements
- Support equipment upgrades, obsolescence management, and capacity expansion as production scales
- Define and execute equipment acceptance testing, validation, and handoff to production
- Mentor junior engineers and technicians and provide technical leadership across equipment-related efforts
- Manage external vendors and integrators as needed for equipment design, build, or modification
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
- 8+ years of experience supporting production equipment, test racks, or test cells in a manufacturing or test environment
- Strong hands-on experience with electromechanical systems, controls, instrumentation, and data acquisition
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex equipment issues across hardware, software, and controls domains
- Experience developing and maintaining technical documentation for production equipment
- Ability to work effectively on the factory floor and in cross-functional engineering teams
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting automated or semi-automated production and test equipment
- Familiarity with PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, or test software (e.g., LabVIEW, Python, or similar)
- Experience with equipment safety standards, lockout/tagout, and risk assessments
- Background in scaling equipment from prototype or low-rate production to higher-rate manufacturing
- Experience mentoring engineers or leading technical projects without direct authority
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $120,000 - $190,000 a year
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. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
See all Manufacturing Jobs at Shield AI
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Manufacturing Jobs at Shield AI.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Manufacturing Jobs at Shield AI
Align your credentials to ITAR requirements
Shield AI's defense manufacturing work falls under ITAR regulations, which restrict certain roles to U.S. persons. Before applying, confirm your visa type doesn't create ITAR barriers. F-1 OPT and TN holders can qualify, but the role's export control classification matters.
Build your resume around automated production systems
Shield AI's manufacturing teams support autonomous vehicle and drone production lines. Highlighting experience with CNC machining, composite assembly, or electronics integration for aerospace platforms signals direct relevance and reduces employer hesitation around sponsorship investment.
Target roles that match your current visa stage
Shield AI sponsors multiple visa pathways including F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, TN, and employment-based Green Cards. Matching the role's seniority to the right visa category early avoids misaligned expectations during offer negotiations. Use Migrate Mate to filter Shield AI's open Manufacturing positions by visa type.
Request LCA details before accepting an offer
For H-1B and EB-2 or EB-3 filings, your employer must file a Labor Condition Application with DOL certifying prevailing wage compliance. Asking about this step upfront shows preparedness and helps you gauge where the employer is in their sponsorship workflow.
Prepare for a skills-based technical screen early
Shield AI's manufacturing interview process typically includes hands-on or scenario-based assessments tied to production systems or quality standards like AS9100. Having documented project outcomes from aerospace or defense environments strengthens your case before sponsorship conversations begin.
Account for PERM timelines if targeting a Green Card
EB-2 and EB-3 sponsorship for manufacturing roles requires USCIS-approved PERM labor certification, which can take 12 to 18 months before the I-140 petition even begins. Factor this into your employment timeline if you're transitioning off a time-limited status like OPT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shield AI sponsor H-1B visas for Manufacturings?
Shield AI's primary sponsorship for Manufacturing roles centers on EB-2, EB-3, F-1 OPT, F-1 CPT, TN visa, and J-1 visa types rather than H-1B visa. That doesn't rule out H-1B pathways entirely, but candidates should confirm directly with Shield AI's talent acquisition team during the offer stage which visa categories apply to the specific manufacturing position.
How do I apply for Manufacturing jobs at Shield AI?
You can browse and apply for Manufacturing roles at Shield AI through their careers portal. To filter specifically for visa-sponsoring Manufacturing positions at Shield AI, Migrate Mate surfaces these roles in one place so you're not manually sorting through listings. When applying, tailor your resume to aerospace or defense production experience and note your visa status upfront so recruiters can route you correctly.
Which visa types are commonly used for Manufacturing roles at Shield AI?
Shield AI has sponsored Manufacturing candidates across F-1 OPT, F-1 CPT, TN, J-1 visa, and employment-based Green Card pathways including EB-2 and EB-3. TN is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying engineering and technical occupations. F-1 OPT is common for recent graduates entering production or quality engineering roles before transitioning to a longer-term sponsored status.
What qualifications does Shield AI expect for Manufacturing roles?
Shield AI's Manufacturing team supports production of autonomous aerial systems, so relevant experience includes aerospace assembly, precision machining, electronics manufacturing, or systems integration in a defense or aviation environment. Familiarity with quality management standards such as AS9100, experience with export-controlled hardware, and a background in high-mix low-volume production environments all strengthen a candidate's profile significantly.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take for a Manufacturing hire at Shield AI?
Timeline depends heavily on visa type. F-1 OPT can allow you to start work quickly if your OPT is already authorized. TN approval for Canadian nationals can happen at the port of entry. EB-2 or EB-3 Green Card sponsorship involves PERM labor certification through DOL, followed by an I-140 petition with USCIS, and can take two to four years or longer depending on your country of birth and priority date.