Staff Fluid Systems Engineer
Shield AI
Software Engineering
Dallas County, TX, USA
Posted on Jun 27, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. 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, YouTubeand Instagram.
Job Description:
We are seeking a Staff Fluid Systems Engineer to serve as the RE for fuel, oil, and bleed systems on on our low-bypass turbofan-powered next-generation UAV platform. This role demands cradle-to-grave ownership of flight-critical fluid systems—from requirements and architecture through design, integration, test, flight, and sustainment.
You’ll be responsible for ensuring that each system performs under high dynamic loading, extreme thermal conditions, and varying atmospheric environments. This role is both deeply technical and execution-focused, requiring close collaboration with teams across design, propulsion, manufacturing, flight test, and mission operations.
What you will do in this role:
- Own system architecture, interfaces, requirements, and verification plans for fuel, oil, and bleed systems.
- Lead design reviews and ensure robustness in high-risk conditions: elevated-G maneuvers, rapid descent/ascent, hot/cold soaks, and transient pressure swings.
- Develop models for compressible/incompressible flows, heat transfer, and venting under dynamic flight conditions.
- Solve problems related to vapor pressure, cavitation, slosh dynamics, level sensing, and ingestion risk.
- Lead ground and flight testing campaigns; analyze results to validate and improve design.
- Coordinate with flight test, supply chain, manufacturing, and propulsion integration teams.
- Manage risk, document trade studies, and author design verification plans and technical documentation.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering discipline.
- 7+ years of experience with aerospace fluid systems in a development or operational environment.
- Proven cradle-to-grave system ownership, including test and flight support.
- Deep understanding of fluid system behavior across operating regimes.
- Strong modeling and data analysis skills (Python, GFSSP, REFPROP, ANSYS, etc.).
- U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with UAVs, tactical aircraft, or jet/rocket propulsion systems.
- Familiarity with vented tanks, pressurization, and transient pressure/flow modeling.
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
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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.