Lead Harness Technician, Hardware Test (R5272)
Posted Updated
Description
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 . Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, 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.
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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.
Skills
As published by lever · 19 questions · 9 written answers
Basics
Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Twitter URL, GitHub URL, Portfolio URL, Other website
Short answers (1)
- Please state your full legal name:
Pick from a list (9)
- Are you authorized to work in the United States?
- Will you require sponsorship for employment now or in the future?
- This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to export controls, such as EAR. Are you any of the following?
- Shield AI provides technology, services, and support to the United States military and allied forces with their various missions. If selected for employment with Shield AI, your contributions will directly relate to and/or support these missions. Are there any reasons why you would not be able to fully contribute in support of the U.S. military and allied forces?
- How did you hear about us?
- Are you a transitioning service member?
- If yes, what partnership program are you working with? optional
- Are you local to or willing to relocate? optional
- What office(s) would you be willing to relocate to? (Select all that apply) optional
Written answers (9)
- If yes, what type of sponsorship? optional
- If you selected "A protected Individual" OR "Other" to the above question, please explain further. optional
- (Optional) If you selected other or would like to expand on the above, feel free to do so below: optional
- If "Industry Conference" or "Other," please provide more details: optional
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- When are you available to start your fellowship? optional
- When are you available for full time work? optional
- What full time job(s) are you applying for?
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