Staff Engineer, Manufacturing
Shield AI · Dallas, TX
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior manufacturing role at Shield AI (aerospace & defense) in Dallas, TX. Act as a technical leader across programs, owning the design and optimization of high-impact manufacturing processes.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, ISO 9001, AS9100, Automation, Machining
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $79k–$132k.
Median of the low and high ends of 33 live postings that list pay, out of 148 manufacturing engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 147 other live manufacturing postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $79k–$132k, from 33 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 57%
- Root cause 51%
- ✓ Lean 39%
- ✓ New product launch 39%
- ✓ Automation 34%
- ✓ Six Sigma 28%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for ISO 9001, AS9100, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Shield AI
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Nicholas → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Shield AI in Dallas
15 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in manufacturing roles at Shield AI.
- Propulsion Engineering Technician (R6045) · Manufacturing
- Support Equipment Engineer (R5913) · Manufacturing
- Production Technician · Production · Technician
- Senior Supplier Development Engineer (R5487) · Quality · Senior
- Sr Director Engineering, V-BAT · Manufacturing · Director+
- Director, Avionics Engineering, V-BAT · Manufacturing · Director+
Full description from Shield AIAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What You'll Do
- ◆Act as a technical leader across programs, owning the design and optimization of high-impact manufacturing processes.
- ◆Drive the scale-up of our flagship product line, balancing throughput, quality, and cost.
- ◆Lead the manufacturing engineering effort for launching a new production line for a larger and more capable jet.
- ◆Scope and deploy critical production infrastructure, including manufacturing equipment, tooling, and hardware/software systems.
- ◆Engage with vendors to source and integrate capital equipment, production tools, and automation systems.
- ◆Mentor engineers and production personnel to build organizational capability and technical depth.
- ◆Champion cross-functional initiatives that standardize and improve manufacturing performance at scale.
Required Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or relevant experience
- ✓7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with a focus in rapid growth environments
- ✓Experience in owning the scale of production processes in a startup or rapid-growth environment.
- ✓Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including machining, composites, avionics and/or assembly.
- ✓Experience with process improvement methodologies, such as Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma.
- ✓Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and adapt to changing priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Knowledge of quality standards, such as AS9100 or ISO 9001.
- ✓Proficiency in CAD software
- ✓Familiarity with advanced manufacturing technologies, such as additive manufacturing or automation systems.
- ✓Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and data-driven decision-making in a manufacturing context.
- ✓Hands-on experience with manufacturing equipment and tooling design.
- ✓Strong project management skills, including experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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
As a Staff Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll take ownership of critical manufacturing processes across multiple programs, leading initiatives to increase throughput, reduce costs, and scale our operations. You’ll be instrumental in building out the infrastructure for a new production line supporting a next-generation jet, including selecting and deploying capital equipment, implementing hardware and software tools, and establishing robust production systems. Working across engineering, supply chain, and production, you’ll ensure smooth integration of new technologies and provide mentorship to other engineers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on cross-functional impact, technical leadership, and factory-scale execution.