Principal Engineer, Fluid & Thermal Systems (R4793)

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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. 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 .

Job Description:

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.

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.

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