Earth Is Our Runway
Shield AI Logo

Shield AI

Lead Harness Technician, Hardware Test (R5272)

Reposted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
Dallas, TX
Senior level
In-Office
Dallas, TX
Senior level
Lead and perform hands-on fabrication, integration, testing, and troubleshooting of wire harnesses and cable assemblies for V-BAT and X-BAT test systems. Establish fabrication standards, improve processes, mentor technicians, maintain documentation and BOMs, coordinate vendors, and support lab operations to minimize downtime and ensure harness quality and reliability.
The summary above was generated by AI
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 LinkedInXInstagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

As the Lead Harness Specialist, you will serve as the technical lead for the Hardware Test Harness Team, helping establish and grow a dedicated harness capability that supports V-BAT and X-BAT test operations. You will remain deeply involved in the hands-on fabrication, integration, and troubleshooting of wire harnesses and cable assemblies while providing day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and technical direction for a team of harness technicians.

Working closely with Hardware Test, Electrical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Engineering teams, you will help define fabrication standards, improve build processes, ensure product quality, and support the development of reliable test infrastructure. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building high-quality hardware, solving technical challenges, and developing a team while remaining actively engaged in day-to-day execution.

What you'll do:

  • Build, modify, repair, and validate complex wire harnesses and cable assemblies supporting Hardware Test systems for V-BAT and X-BAT.
  • Lead daily activities for the Hardware Test Harness Team, providing technical guidance, work prioritization, and mentorship to harness technicians.
  • Establish and continuously improve harness fabrication processes, quality standards, documentation, and best practices.
  • Interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, connector pinouts, wire lists, and engineering drawings to build production-quality harnesses.
  • Assemble and integrate harnesses into electrical and electromechanical test stands, fixtures, and laboratory equipment.
  • Perform continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, and functional verification to ensure harness quality and reliability.
  • Troubleshoot wiring issues, connector failures, and integration problems to support development and production test operations.
  • Partner with engineers during new test stand development to provide manufacturability feedback and improve harness serviceability.
  • Support configuration management by maintaining harness documentation, revisions, bills of materials, and work instructions.
  • Coordinate with vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure materials and components are available to meet project schedules.
  • Support laboratory operations by responding to emergent issues and performing repairs that minimize test downtime.
  • Foster a culture of craftsmanship, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement within the Harness Team.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

  • 5+ years of experience building wire harnesses, cable assemblies, or electrical systems in aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, or similar industries.
  • Demonstrated experience leading technicians or serving as a technical lead on hardware build activities.
  • Strong ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, connector pinouts, and engineering drawings.
  • Hands-on experience with harness fabrication techniques including crimping, soldering, shielding, splicing, labeling, and connector assembly.
  • Experience performing electrical verification including continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, and troubleshooting.
  • Familiarity with aerospace-quality workmanship standards and documentation practices.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proven history of taking ownership, delivering high-quality work, and collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
  • Record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and treating others with respect.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience building harnesses for aerospace, UAV, military, robotics, or autonomous systems.
  • Experience supporting hardware test laboratories, manufacturing test equipment, or production test environments.
  • Familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards or equivalent harness manufacturing standards.
  • Experience using harness design or documentation tools such as Capital, Zuken, SolidWorks Electrical, or AutoCAD Electrical.
  • Experience creating or improving manufacturing work instructions and build documentation.
  • Experience with soldering, machining, or electromechanical assembly.
  • Previous experience helping build or scale a technical team.

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. 

Similar Jobs at Shield AI

Yesterday
In-Office
95K-140K Annually
Senior level
95K-140K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Maintain an authoritative ledger of ground support equipment and payloads, build analytical infrastructure (dashboards, forecasts, lifecycle models), provide fleet allocation and deployment planning support, coordinate with Engineering/Manufacturing/Sustainment, and produce decision-ready briefings and ad hoc analyses for senior leadership to inform asset management and capture activities.
Top Skills: ExcelPower BISQLTableau
Yesterday
Hybrid
120K-210K Annually
Senior level
120K-210K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Own full-cycle recruiting for complex and senior G&A roles across Finance, Legal, People, IT, Facilities, and other corporate functions. Advise senior leaders, develop talent strategies, lead intake and interview planning, build pipelines, negotiate offers, and improve recruiting workflows using AI, automation, and data. Maintain candidate experience, compliance, and ATS accuracy while mentoring recruiters and implementing responsible AI practices.
Top Skills: Applicant Tracking Systems (Ats)Artificial Intelligence (Ai)AutomationRecruiting Technology
Yesterday
In-Office or Remote
United States
190K-290K Annually
Expert/Leader
190K-290K Annually
Expert/Leader
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead multi-year strategic planning and annual operating cycles, evaluate portfolio tradeoffs, build financial models for capital allocation, and translate strategy into cross-functional execution plans with KPIs. Conduct market sizing, competitive analysis, scenario modeling, and track performance through operating cadences to identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions.
Top Skills: AechelonHivemindV-BatX-Bat

What you need to know about the NYC Tech Scene

As the undisputed financial capital of the world, New York City is an epicenter of startup funding activity. The city has a thriving fintech scene and is a major player in verticals ranging from AI to biotech, cybersecurity and digital media. It also has universities like NYU, Columbia and Cornell Tech attracting students and researchers from across the globe, providing the ecosystem with a constant influx of world-class talent. And its East Coast location and three international airports make it a perfect spot for European companies establishing a foothold in the United States.

Key Facts About NYC Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 549,200; 6% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Capgemini, Bloomberg, IBM, Spotify
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, Fintech
  • Funding Landscape: $25.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Greycroft, Thrive Capital, Union Square Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Tiger Global Management, Tribeca Venture Partners, Insight Partners, Two Sigma Ventures
  • Research Centers and Universities: Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, CUNY, AI Now Institute, Flatiron Institute, C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account