Be an Early Applicant
Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
The Role
Lead design, development, simulation, testing, and integration of fluid and thermal systems for autonomous aircraft and ground platforms. Drive first-principles modeling, prototype validation, supplier selection, and mentor junior engineers while ensuring system-level thermal performance from concept through production.
Summary Generated by Built In
Founded in 2015, 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 and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. 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.
Are you an experienced and innovative Fluid & Thermal Systems Engineer looking to help shape the future of AI and robotics technology? Are you eager to make a meaningful impact on cutting-edge products that matter? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment alongside highly motivated and values-focused teammates? Shield AI is the perfect place for you!
As a Staff Fluid & Thermal Systems Engineer at Shield AI, you will lead the design, development, and optimization of fluid and thermal systems for our advanced autonomous UAVs and ground systems. Your expertise fluid & thermal system design will drive innovation, prototyping, testing, and the successful integration of solutions that operate reliably in challenging environments. This role requires technical leadership, collaboration with cross-functional teams, and an unwavering commitment to delivering excellence from concept to production.
As a Staff Fluid & Thermal Systems Engineer at Shield AI, you will lead the design, development, and optimization of fluid and thermal systems for our advanced autonomous UAVs and ground systems. Your expertise fluid & thermal system design will drive innovation, prototyping, testing, and the successful integration of solutions that operate reliably in challenging environments. This role requires technical leadership, collaboration with cross-functional teams, and an unwavering commitment to delivering excellence from concept to production.
What you'll do:
- Own design and analysis of fluid and thermal systems for aircraft and ground platforms.
- Develop and implement innovative thermal solutions
- Use first-principles engineering to drive design decisions to yield optimal solutions
- Research technologies for integration into complex solutions
- Conduct advanced simulations to predict system performance and refine designs
- Execute testing and validation efforts, including data acquisition, post-processing, and verification against requirements
- Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate fluid and thermal system designs into larger system architectures.
- Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering technical growth and excellence within the team.
- Identify suppliers and build successful supplier management relationships for procurement of components or systems for fluid and thermal system designs
- Other duties as assigned
Required qualifications:
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in Fluid or Thermal System design, with a proven track record of technical excellence.
- B.S. or advanced degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline.
- Deep understanding of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and system-level thermal management.
- Experience implementing system models in commercial tools, such as MATLAB Simscape, Amesim, etc.
- Experience developing custom engineering models in Excel and in languages such as MATLAB, Python, etc.
- Experience in fluid and thermal system testing, including sensor integration, data acquisition, and analysis.
- Expertise in 3D CAD modeling tools such as Siemens NX or equivalent.
- Demonstrated ability to execute projects with minimal oversight, assume full ownership, and deliver exceptional outcomes.
- Excellence in supplier management, COTS component sourcing, optimization/trade studies
- Proven success in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
- Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.
Preferred qualifications:
- Extensive experience with fluid & thermal system design, analysis, manufacture and test for aircraft
- Familiarity with fluid and thermal system effects on aircraft performance
- Familiarity with startup or R&D environments, demonstrating adaptability and agility under pressure.
- Strong knowledge of environmental standards and certification processes for aerospace or defense systems.
- A passion for innovation and the ability to push boundaries in fluid & thermal system development.
#LI-MS1
#LF
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 Required
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in fluid or thermal system design
- B.S. or advanced degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline
- Deep understanding of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and system-level thermal management
- Experience implementing system models in commercial tools such as MATLAB Simscape or Amesim
- Experience developing custom engineering models in Excel and languages such as MATLAB and Python
- Experience in fluid and thermal system testing, including sensor integration, data acquisition, and analysis
- Expertise in 3D CAD modeling tools such as Siemens NX or equivalent
- Proven ability to execute projects with minimal oversight and assume full ownership
- Excellence in supplier management, COTS component sourcing, and trade studies
- Proven success working in dynamic, fast-paced environments
- Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance
- Extensive experience with fluid and thermal system design, analysis, manufacture and test for aircraft
- Familiarity with fluid and thermal system effects on aircraft performance and aerospace certification processes
- Experience in startup or R&D environments demonstrating adaptability under pressure
What the Team is Saying
Dylan
Lead Engineer, Planning and Controls-Motion
Mo
Lead Engineer, Platform Automation
Willy
Technical Director
Michael
Engineering Manager - State Estimation
Vibhav
Senior Staff Engineer
Kirby
Mechanical Engineer
Ryan
CEO
Evan
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage alongside a mental‑health EAP. Site perks such as an onsite gym in DC and a gym discount in San Diego support a health‑focused offering.
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Retirement Support — Careers materials highlight a 401(k) with company match as part of the standard package. A Total Rewards overview emphasizes retirement features within a broader, transparent compensation view.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Compensation for in‑demand technical and senior go‑to‑market roles is described as competitive, with visible engineering ranges and top‑end packages. This points to meaningful upside tied to role, level, and scarce skills.
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The Company
What We Do
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.
Why Work With Us
What makes Shield AI special is our people. We unlock the power of autonomy, and in the face of overwhelming odds and challenges, we find ways to win and make a difference for our customers. We bring together software, AI, and aerospace engineering disciplines to deploy the most intelligent aviation capabilities in the world.
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Shield AI Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Typical time on-site:
3 days a week
