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Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
The Role
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
Job Description:
We are seeking a highly capable Propulsion Engineer II to join our multidisciplinary team that owns the full lifecycle of UAV propulsion systems—from system sizing and design to build, test, flight integration, and post-mission analysis. This role will focus on heavy-fuel two-stroke and jet-based propulsion platforms, supporting both developmental and operational programs.
You’ll work alongside technicians and fellow engineers to iterate rapidly on propulsion hardware, driving performance, reliability, and mission capability improvements. Candidates with experience supporting military propulsion systems, tactical aircraft, or high-performance aerospace platforms are especially encouraged to apply.
What you will do in this role:
- Design, modify, and integrate UAV propulsion systems, including both internal combustion and turbine-based architectures.
- Lead or support system-level sizing, thermal/fluid analysis, and mechanical design of propulsion subsystems (fuel, cooling, airframe integration).
- Own hardware through its lifecycle—from CAD and procurement through hands-on build, test execution, flight operations, and data review.
- Analyze test and flight data to validate system performance and inform design iterations.
- Collaborate with technicians to execute test plans and troubleshoot propulsion anomalies.
- Maintain and generate documentation including engineering drawings, models, and procedures.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 2+ years of experience in propulsion system development or related engineering roles.
- Experience owning hardware from design through test and flight.
- Strong grasp of thermodynamics, combustion systems, and fluid mechanics.
- Proficiency in Python for data analysis, automation, or modeling.
- Hands-on experience with engine assembly, test environments, and hardware debugging.
- U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
Preferred qualifications:
- Familiarity with REFPROP, GFSSP, or similar thermal/fluid modeling tools.
- Experience supporting turbine engines for high-performance or tactical aerospace platforms, including UAVs or jet aircraft.
- Exposure to high-temperature materials, thermal protection systems, or extreme thermal environments.
- Working knowledge of engine instrumentation, sensors, and control logic.
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Proficiency in Siemens NX for mechanical design and Teamcenter for PLM and BOM management.
- Experience creating and interpreting detailed engineering drawings, specs, and CAD models.
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, test-driven development environment.
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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.
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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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