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: **
We are seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to serve as the Responsible Engineer (RE) for a propulsion subsystem on the X-BAT platform, a next-generation UAV powered by a low-bypass turbofan engine. This role demands cradle-to-grave ownership of assigned propulsion hardware - from requirements and architecture through design, build, test, flight, performance validation, and operational support.
You will serve as the focal point for all technical matters related to your assigned subsystem—whether engine modules, fuel delivery, oil systems, bleed air, valves, or actuation - ensuring it delivers the required performance, integrates cleanly with the engine and vehicle, and supports the full range of operational demands. This role is hands-on, analysis-driven, and highly cross-functional—requiring collaboration with design, fluids, controls, airframe, manufacturing, flight test, and mission teams.
What you will do in this role:
- Act as the single-threaded owner for the engine, accountable for all technical decisions from concept to flight.
- Define and manage engine requirements, interfaces, integration strategy, and performance goals.
- Lead ground and flight testing of the engine, including instrumentation planning, data acquisition, and analysis of key performance parameters (thrust, fuel flow, margin, transients).
- Analyze engine performance data across the flight envelope to validate behavior, identify anomalies, and close design-to-mission gaps.
- Collaborate with airframe, controls, and mission engineering teams to ensure engine integration supports aircraft-level CONOPS, maneuverability, and reliability.
- Own engine-level fault management, failure investigations, and margin assessments.
- Guide the development of engine control logic and tuning, including throttle schedule design and transient response shaping.
- Represent the engine in design reviews, technical readiness checkpoints, leadership briefings, and customer engagements.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in jet engine development, testing, and integration.
- Demonstrated ownership of engine hardware through test and flight operations.
- Strong knowledge of aerospace engine fundamentals, including thermodynamic cycles, thrust modeling, operability limits, and transient response.
- Hands-on experience in engine testing, including sensor planning, data systems, and test execution.
- Proficiency in Python for performance analysis, data reduction, and model correlation.
- U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with low-bypass turbofan engines on UAVs, tactical aircraft, or similar aerospace platforms.
- Familiarity with GFSSP, REFPROP, ANSYS, or FEA to support performance modeling and test correlation.
- Experience with engine control development, feedback tuning, and transient validation.
- Background in rocket engine development with transferable test or turbomachinery experience.
- Proficiency with Siemens NX and Teamcenter for interface review and configuration context.
- M.S. 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.
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.