Principal Engineer, Fluid & Thermal Systems (R5620)

Shield AI is a venture‑backed defense‑tech company dedicated to 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. Shield AI operates worldwide with offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia‑Pacific.

About the role

The Principal Fluid & Thermal Systems Engineer will lead the design, development, and optimization of fluid and thermal systems for advanced autonomous UAVs and ground systems. This position provides technical leadership, collaborates with cross‑functional teams, and ensures reliable operation of solutions in challenging environments from concept through production.

Responsibilities

• 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 and 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

• Minimum 15+ 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 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, and 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.

Pay

Salary range: $266,000 – $400,000 per year.

Full‑time regular employee offer package includes pay within the listed range, bonus, benefits, and equity.

Temporary employee offer package includes pay within the listed range plus a temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment).

Salary compensation is influenced by factors such as skill set, experience, licenses, certifications, and work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.

Benefits

• Bonus
• Standard employee benefits
• Equity participation
• Temporary benefits package for temporary employees after 60 days