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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 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. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
Shield AI is hiring a Senior Staff Propulsion Design Engineer to lead the design, integration, and delivery of propulsion hardware for our next-generation AI-powered UAV. You’ll be responsible for developing the architecture and detailed design of fuel, oil, and bleed air systems—from concept through flight testing.
This position combines deep technical design ownership with high visibility across the engineering organization. You’ll help define design standards, mentor engineers, and ensure that complex propulsion systems meet mission-critical performance, safety, and manufacturability targets.
What you will do in this role:
- Lead the design, analysis, and integration of propulsion system components and subsystems.
- Drive the development of CAD models, assemblies, and fully dimensioned drawings with GD&T in Siemens NX.
- Define propulsion system interfaces, tolerances, and load paths in collaboration with structures, propulsion, and systems teams.
- Conduct and review analyses—thermal, structural, and fluid flow—to validate designs and guide decision-making.
- Support ground and flight test operations, including build support, anomaly resolution, and test data correlation.
- Oversee supplier collaboration, design reviews, and manufacturing readiness for critical components.
- Develop and enforce design standards, configuration control, and documentation best practices.
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the maturation of propulsion design processes and methodologies.
Required qualifications:
- B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
- 7–10+ years of experience in mechanical design, preferably with aerospace propulsion or fluid systems.
- Advanced proficiency in CAD (NX preferred), GD&T, and complex assembly modeling.
- Strong understanding of design-for-manufacturing principles, tolerance analysis, and structural integration.
- Hands-on experience supporting prototype builds, resolving non-conformances, and executing design improvements.
- Demonstrated experience with analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, GFSSP, REFPROP, FEA).
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional efforts and mentor junior engineers.
- U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
Preferred qualifications:
- Background in low-bypass turbofan or UAV propulsion systems.
- Experience with thermal, structural, and fluid system design for high-performance aircraft.
- Familiarity with supplier management, configuration control, and PLM systems (Teamcenter).
- Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
- Strong communication and leadership skills with a track record of delivering complex aerospace systems from concept to flight.
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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.
Shield AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Shield AI and has not been reviewed or approved by Shield AI.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as excellent, spanning medical, dental, vision, mental‑health EAP, and optional pet insurance. Location‑based wellness perks such as onsite or discounted gym access reinforce the health offering.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is positioned as a standard component of total rewards for full‑time employees, with stock/RSUs noted across roles. Access appears broad‑based rather than limited to select cohorts.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time‑off programs highlight paid parental leave alongside an accrual‑based PTO structure with a high carryover cap. Flexibility elements such as flexible hours complement the core leave offering.
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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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