Lead Prototype Technician (R5476)

About this role

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: At Shield AI, Prototype Manufacturing is where engineering becomes reality. Our team builds the first aircraft, develops the manufacturing processes, solves complex technical challenges, and establishes the manufacturing foundation that enables scalable production. Every prototype directly influences the future of our products and the capabilities delivered to our customers. We are seeking an experienced Lead Prototype Technician (Level 5) to join our Prototype & New Product Launch team. This is not a traditional aerospace technician role. You will build first-of-kind autonomous aircraft, develop manufacturing processes, solve challenging technical problems, influence product design through Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and help define how our products transition from prototype to production. As a Lead Prototype Technician, you will serve as the technical cornerstone of Prototype Manufacturing by transforming engineering intent into flight-ready hardware while driving continuous improvement across manufacturing processes. You will partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Production to ensure our prototype builds are successful today and scalable for tomorrow.