Principal Fuel Systems Engineer
Shield AI is a U.S. defense-technology company developing mission-autonomy software and autonomous aircraft for military and allied operations.
Funding history
Investors
About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI builds Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft for operations in contested, GPS- and communications-denied environments. Its current site also presents Aechelon synthetic-reality simulation and Vision Systems detection and tracking products.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will lead the full lifecycle of fuel-system design for advanced autonomous aircraft, from concept through flight testing. You will develop system architecture, model fuel behavior, define verification strategies, guide suppliers and tests, resolve anomalies, and mentor engineers.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering
- 12–15+ years of experience in aircraft fuel systems, aerospace fluids, or propulsion integration
- Expertise in aircraft fuel-system design, analysis, and certification
- Knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and CFD
- Proficiency with ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink, and CAD software
- Technical leadership and mentoring experience
- Familiarity with FAA and MIL-STD certification requirements
- U.S. citizenship
- Ability to travel up to 25% for remote candidates
Responsibilities
- Architect fuel storage, transfer, venting, and pressurization systems
- Lead integration with propulsion, structures, avionics, and thermal disciplines
- Model flow behavior, vapor suppression, slosh dynamics, and thermal effects
- Define component performance requirements and verification strategies
- Lead design reviews, trade studies, and risk assessments
- Oversee supplier selection, qualification, and acceptance testing
- Support ground and flight tests and investigate system anomalies
- Mentor engineers and establish integration and testing practices
- Contribute to hybrid-electric and alternative-fuel technology roadmaps
Benefits
- Bonus
- Equity