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Posted August 23, 2026

Senior Engineer, Air Vehicle Fluid Systems (R5203)

Shield AI
San Diego, CA, US Full Time
112439USD - 168659USD per year

Job Description

Job Description
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and 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:

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Fluid Systems Engineer to support development and flight test of of liquid cooling and thermal management systems for our groundbreaking jet-engine VTOL military UAV platform, X-BAT. You will design components and fluid systems, engage with suppliers, perform system and component analysis and sizing, and own multiple aspects of X-BAT’s fluid systems. You may also travel to support flight test operations in the control room out of Shield AI’s Newton, KS test site during Shield AI’s flight test campaigns.

Required qualifications:
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
  • 5+ years experience with environmental control systems, liquid cooling systems, thermal systems, component design, system analysis, supplier management, requirements management, etc.
  • Demonstrated ability to execute design, build, and test with rigor at speed
  • Strong CAD skills (NX preferred)
  • Demonstrated proficiency with fluid system analysis, including 1st principles, Simscape, Amesim, etc.
  • Ability to work independently in fast-paced, cross-functional teams
  • A demonstrated record of working hard, being trustworthy, holding yourself to high standards, and being kind to others
Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience with environmental and operational robustness (vibration/shock, thermal extremes, contamination, corrosion, sand/dust, etc.).
  • Experience supporting ground test and flight test campaigns and system checkout, failure investigations.
  • Familiarity with reliability and safety methods (DFMEA/FTA, fault containment, safe-state thinking) in collaboration with systems safety.
  • Familiarity with fighter-class and larger aircraft flight test operations, control room operations, radio communication procedures, and test data processing and presentation.
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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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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