---
title: 'Mechanical Engineer at Shift5'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-shift5-rosslyn-nj10177tpk3j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-13'
---

# Mechanical Engineer at Shift5

- **Company:** Shift5
- **Location:** Rosslyn, VA
- **Posted:** 2026-09-23
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-13
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/shift5/jobs/6205397004

## Job description

## About Shift5

Shift5 is building the data platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We deliver cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance capabilities that enable defense and commercial fleets to operate with greater readiness, resilience, and mission assurance.

We are seeking a mission-aligned Mechanical Engineer to drive the mechanical design, development and integration of cutting-edge rugged hardware for data collection and processing on the edge.

This role sits at the intersection of Mechanical Design, Hardware Lifecycle Management, and Aerospace/Defense Compliance and will play a critical role in supporting Shift5’s next phase of growth.

This is an active, in-office and field-oriented role. It requires a desire to get hands-on in the field with customer platforms, technical fluency in mechanical design, ownership of the full hardware development lifecycle, an ambitious mindset to do whatever it takes, and the relentless drive needed to solve the toughest problems facing our customers.

## What You'll Do

- Design and develop ruggedized electronic enclosure assemblies and custom mechanical installation kits using first-principles physics and engineering analysis to comply with military and aerospace standards.
- Own CAD modeling and PLM for ruggedized electronic assemblies and mechanical installation kits, generating production drawings with GD&T under DO-160 and MIL-STD-810 standards.
- Partner with vendors and suppliers to manage tooling, procurement, BOMs, and design revisions supporting manufacturing and field deployment.
- Travel and deploy into the field to work directly alongside customers, leading on-site mechanical fit checks, installations, and supporting integration testing, and system verification.
- Prototype, test, and validate mechanical designs against real-world structural, thermal, environmental, and integration requirements.
- Translate field integration findings into actionable mechanical design improvements, working to resolve interface, fitment, environmental, and manufacturability issues.

## What We’re Looking For

Required:

- Experience in mechanical engineering of rugged electrical enclosure design, bracket/installation kit design, or hands-on hardware integration. (3+ years; 7+ years for Senior).
- Proficiency in 3D CAD and PLM tools, including SolidWorks and Siemens NX & Teamcenter, for detailed design, drafting, GD&T, and assembly validation.
- Strong engineering fundamentals across first-principles physics, FEA, sheet metal fabrication, and advanced manufacturing methods.
- Hands-on-Experience with mechanical prototyping, assembly, integration, and testing.
- Comfort operating in fast-paced, regulated environments involving MIL-STD-810 (shock, vibration, environmental) and DO-160 standards.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- Highly self-motivated with a strong bias for action, proactive problem-solving skills, and willingness to travel as needed.
- Security Clearance: Active U.S. Secret security clearance, or the ability and willingness to obtain one.

Preferred:

- System-level electromechanical integration experience for defense/aerospace platforms, including cable routing, thermal management, structural load paths, and mounting constraints.
- Vendor & Supply Chain Collaboration: Experience conducting vendor surveys, evaluating component supplier changes, and working closely with supply chain and manufacturing teams.
- Experience in an AS9100 certified environment and familiarity with IPC standards.

## Compensation & Benefits

We are open to hiring for this position at the Mid-level or Senior level, depending on candidate experience and skill depth. The actual title and pay grade will be aligned during the interview process.

- Mid-Level: $110,000 – $150,000
- Senior Level: $130,000 – $180,000

Compensation is determined based on relevant experience, technical expertise, and interview assessment.

- Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup

- Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families

- Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions

- Employer-paid Life and Disability Insurance

- Uncapped paid time off policy

- Flexible work & remote work policy

- Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA)

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that embraces the diversity of our people and represents the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives and ways of solving problems. We strive to attract and retain talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Shift5 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, age, marital status, ancestry, projected veteran status, or any other protected group or class.

[Privacy Policy and Notice for Shift5, Inc. Job Applicants, Employees & Contractors](https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSoqk1SJimaI-_eN6ivV05XJKDJIvh7t32xMVM_7CEFDjGHGjEyFAs6_4v7Uv_OxALOz8g_IzQ6VYmn/pub)

## About Shift5

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Shift5 provides an operational intelligence platform that analyzes onboard serial bus and radio frequency data from military and commercial fleets to deliver near real-time threat detection, predictive maintenance, and compliance automation.
- **Entity Type**: Private – Series C (raised $75M ~10 months ago; total funding $180.75–$185M)
- **Headquarters**: Arlington, Virginia, USA
- **Founded**: 2019
- **Founders**: Josh Lospinoso (co-founder, now Board Member); the company was also founded by former U.S. Army Cyber Command officers.

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Defense, aviation, ground vehicles, maritime, rail – operational technology (OT) cybersecurity and observability.
- **Target customers**: B2B – U.S. Department of Defense, military branches (Air Force, Army), commercial airlines, rail operators, and critical infrastructure fleet managers.
- **Mission / purpose**: “We exist to protect the servicemembers who defend our nation and secure the critical systems that keep our economy moving.”

## Products & Services
- **Shift5 Operational Intelligence Platform**: SaaS/software that ingests serial bus and RF data from fleets (aircraft, ground vehicles, ships, trains) to detect faults, cyber threats, and GPS spoofing in near real-time.
- **Predictive Maintenance**: Transforms serial bus data into proactive maintenance insights to reduce unplanned downtime and improve mission readiness.
- **Cybersecurity / EW**: Analyzes serial bus traffic and RF data to flag threats (e.g., GPS spoofing, advanced persistent threats) and enable operator action.
- **Fleet Compliance**: Processes security log files from commercial aircraft to verify compliance with aviation regulations and identify security incidents.
- **RF-Enabled GPS Threat Detection**: Plug-and-play capability that provides early warning of GPS spoofing up to 200 nautical miles away.
- **Research Services**: Expert-led security assessments, novel threat research, and specialized tooling for protecting critical assets.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company).
- **Key Metric**: Total venture capital funding – **$180.75M** (CB Insights) or **$185M** (company site) across multiple rounds; last raise was a **$75M Series C** approximately 10 months prior to the search date.
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Partners include **Boeing** (joint fault/threat detection initiative), **Anduril** (next-generation command & control for Army), **Rune Technologies** (defense platform sustainment), **L3Harris** (Toby Magsig, former L3Harris executive, now President & CEO). Federal contracts include **U.S. Air Force F-16** upgrades, **CSfC listing** for classified operations.
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Over **100 full-time employees** across five time zones.
  - Formalized executive leadership team (Toby Magsig confirmed CEO, new C-Suite roles) following “best Q1 in company history.”
  - Launched advanced RF-enabled GPS threat detection (Jan 2026).
  - Achieved **Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC)** listing (June 2026).
  - Selected for next-gen F-16 upgrades (Dec 2025).
  - Partnerships with Anduril, Boeing, and Rune Technologies.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique data access**: Only platform extracting and analyzing raw serial bus (MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429) and RF data from military/commercial fleets, often in contested environments.
- **Early-warning GPS spoofing detection**: RF-based method that detects threats up to 200 nautical miles away – a capability few competitors offer.
- **Deep defense heritage**: Founders and leadership with U.S. Army Cyber Command and L3Harris backgrounds; strong trust within DoD and prime contractors.
- **Regulatory compliance**: NIAP and CSfC listings enable broader use in classified and sensitive operations.
- **Partnerships with primes**: Boeing, Anduril, L3Harris – validated integration into major platforms.

## Strategic Focus
- **Acceleration across defense and critical infrastructure** – expanding beyond aviation into ground vehicles, maritime, and rail.
- **Product expansion**: Continued investment in RF-based detection, predictive maintenance, and integration with partner ecosystems (e.g., Lattice Mesh).
- **Talent scaling**: Hiring across deployment strategy, field engineering, hardware/software engineering, and go-to-market roles.
- **Executive leadership stability**: Formalized C-suite to support growth and market penetration.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Low-ego, high-horsepower” team from diverse backgrounds (public/private sectors). Values include Mission-First Mindset, Relentless Innovation, and Data-Driven Precision.
- **Work model**: Many roles are “Remote/HQ” – flexibility to work remotely while maintaining an HQ in Arlington, VA. Open positions include Deployment Strategist, Field Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Systems Integration Engineer, and Proposal Manager.
- **Benefits**:
  - Comprehensive medical coverage with HSA contributions.
  - **12 weeks paid parental leave** (birth or adoption).
  - **Unlimited time off** plus paid holidays.
  - 401(k) plan (pre-tax and Roth options via Vanguard).
  - Financial and legal support through internal team.
- **Engineering culture**: Focus on solving tough OT problems; hardware and software teams work closely; emphasis on scalability and real-time data.
- **Impact**: Direct contribution to protecting service members and critical national infrastructure.

## Sources
1. [shift5.io – Homepage](https://shift5.io/)
2. [shift5.io – Company page](https://shift5.io/company/)
3. [shift5.io – Careers page](https://shift5.io/careers/)
4. [CB Insights – Shift5 profile](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/shift5)
5. [LinkedIn – Shift5](https://www.linkedin.com/company/shift5)

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