Principal Engineer, Fluid & Thermal Systems

About the role

Shield AI, a venture-backed defense-tech company building aircraft, ground systems and autonomy software, is hiring a Principal Fluid & Thermal Systems Engineer in Seattle. You will lead the design, development and optimization of fluid and thermal systems for autonomous UAVs and ground systems, working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment alongside motivated teammates.

Key responsibilities

• Own the design and analysis of fluid and thermal systems for aircraft and ground platforms
• Develop and implement innovative thermal solutions using first-principles engineering
• Research technologies for integration into complex solutions
• Run advanced simulations to predict system performance and refine designs
• Carry out testing and validation, including data acquisition, post-processing and verification against requirements
• Work with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate fluid and thermal designs into larger system architectures
• Mentor and guide junior engineers
• Identify suppliers and manage supplier relationships for procurement of components or systems

Required profile

• Minimum 15+ years of experience in fluid or thermal system design with a proven record of technical excellence
• B.S. or advanced degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or related engineering
• Deep understanding of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and system-level thermal management
• Ability to work with minimal oversight and to obtain a S//SAR security clearance (desired)

Required skills

• System modeling tools such as MATLAB Simscape or Amesim
• Custom engineering models in Excel and languages such as MATLAB and Python
• Fluid and thermal system testing, including sensor integration, data acquisition and analysis
• 3D CAD tools such as Siemens NX or equivalent
• Supplier management, COTS component sourcing and trade studies

Preferred: aircraft fluid and thermal design experience, familiarity with fluid and thermal effects on aircraft performance, startup/R&D environment experience, and knowledge of environmental standards and certification for aerospace or defense systems.