Senior Fluids Systems Engineer
Shield AI
What you will do in this role:
- Lead R&D and design of fluid transport systems including pumps, lines, valves, tanks, ducts, and nozzles
- Develop fluid subsystem architecture for fuel, cooling, airflow, and pressure management across the vehicle
- Run detailed simulations using MATLAB/Simulink, Thermal Desktop, and ANSYS Fluent or CFX to predict system performance under varying operating conditions
- Conduct trade studies across flow paths, pressure drop optimization, thermal loads, and packaging constraints
- Develop and iterate on component-level and integrated test plans, including instrumentation requirements
- Work with propulsion, mechanical, and thermal engineers to ensure tight integration of fluid systems into the vehicle design
- Support hardware prototyping and test rig development, with hands-on validation and root cause analysis
- Author detailed design documentation: requirements, FMEAs, test procedures, and interface control drawings
- Serve as technical mentor for early-career engineers and provide domain leadership within the propulsion fluids group
- Present engineering work at internal reviews, contribute to cross-functional design decisions, and influence Group 5 architecture
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of experience designing and analyzing aerospace or automotive fluid systems
- Expertise in compressible and incompressible flows, fluid-thermal interaction, and flow stability
- Deep familiarity with ANSYS Fluent, CFX, or STAR-CCM+, as well as MATLAB/Simulink and Thermal Desktop
- Hands-on experience with fluid subsystem design, packaging, and integration
- Strong grasp of aerospace fluid dynamics, component-level design (valves, pumps, ducts), and materials selection
- Demonstrated ability to lead designs from R&D through prototype and integration
- Excellent documentation and cross-functional collaboration skills
Preferred qualifications:
- Master’s or PhD in Fluid Mechanics, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering
- Experience on UAV platforms, high-performance aircraft, or advanced propulsion systems
- Background in multiphysics modeling, transient behavior, and dynamic system coupling
- Familiarity with MIL-STD, DO-160, or related aerospace validation standards
- Prior involvement in system-level integration efforts, especially with propulsion and thermal teams
- Active or prior DoD clearance (not required)