Remote Principal Fuel Systems Engineer (R3300) (Remote)

Shield; España; Hybrid; EUR 187,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Principal Fuel Systems Engineer to lead architecture, development, and validation of fuel systems for its advanced AI-powered aircraft. You will own the full lifecycle from concept through flight testing while mentoring others and driving technical excellence across the air vehicle portfolio.

This role requires 12–15+ years in aircraft fuel systems, strong fluid mechanics and CFD knowledge, and proficiency with ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink plus CAD tools.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• 12–15+ years in aircraft fuel systems or propulsion integration.
• Expertise in fuel system design, analysis and certification.
• Strong fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and CFD knowledge.
• Proficiency with ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink and CAD tools.
• FAA and MIL-STD certification familiarity.
• U.S. Citizenship; remote candidates may travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Architect end-to-end fuel systems for next-gen autonomous aircraft.
• Lead cross-functional integration across propulsion, structures, avionics.
• Model and analyze flow, vapor suppression, slosh, and thermal effects.
• Define performance requirements and verification strategies.
• Lead design reviews, trade studies and risk assessments.
• Oversee supplier selection, qualification and testing.
• Support ground and flight test campaigns with root-cause analysis.
• Mentor engineers and develop integration/testing processes.
• Contribute to long-term tech roadmaps including hybrid-electric systems.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

B.S./M.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS Fluent

OpenFOAM

MATLAB/Simulink

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

Job description

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 aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine 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:

Shield AI is seeking a Principal Fuel Systems Engineer to lead architecture, development, and validation of fuel systems for advanced AI-powered aircraft. In this role, you’ll own the full lifecycle of fuel system design—from concept through flight testing—while mentoring others and driving technical excellence across our growing air vehicle portfolio.

You’ll tackle high-impact challenges: enabling efficient long-endurance flight, optimizing aircraft center of gravity, and developing robust, certifiable systems that perform flawlessly in extreme conditions.

On-site or hybrid work is preferred; however, for highly qualified candidates, a remote arrangement may be considered with up to 25% travel.

What you will do in this role:

• Architect end-to-end fuel systems including storage, transfer, venting, and pressurization for next-gen autonomous aircraft.
• Lead cross-functional integration between propulsion, structures, avionics, and thermal teams to ensure optimal system performance.
• Conduct system-level modeling and analysis to predict flow behavior, vapor suppression, slosh dynamics, and thermal effects.
• Define performance requirements and verification strategies for high-reliability components and assemblies.
• Lead design reviews, technical trade studies, and risk assessments for critical systems.
• Oversee supplier selection, qualification, and acceptance testing for pumps, valves, tanks, and sensors.
• Support and guide ground and flight test campaigns; perform root-cause analysis for system anomalies.
• Mentor engineers, establish best practices, and develop processes for system integration and testing.
• Contribute to long-term technology roadmaps, including hybrid-electric and alternative fuel system architectures.

Required qualifications:

• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering discipline.
• 12–15+ years of experience in aircraft fuel systems, aerospace fluids, or propulsion integration.
• Demonstrated expertise with fuel system design, analysis, and certification for manned or unmanned aircraft.
• Deep understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and CFD principles.
• Proficiency with analysis and modeling tools (ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink) and CAD software (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks).
• Strong technical leadership and mentoring experience within multidisciplinary teams.
• Familiarity with FAA and MIL-STD certification requirements and validation testing.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• For remote candidates - ability to travel up to 25%.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with UAV, fighter, or ISR platform development.
• Proven success leading complex fuel system programs from concept through flight test.
• Knowledge of advanced or low-observable fuel system technologies, vapor suppression, and hybrid-electric integration.
• Active or previous security clearance.

$209,197 - $313,795 a year

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. 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.