Power Electronics - Principal Electrical Engineer (R4822)

Shield AI; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is redefining autonomous aviation with AI-powered aircrafts and advanced power systems. We are seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer to own flight-critical power system design for the X-BAT, including high and low voltage electronics, battery management, and validation through the full development cycle.

You will lead a team, drive cross-functional collaboration with Mechanical, Embedded, Software, and Production, and ensure designs are robust for harsh environments.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 10+ years of experience as an Electrical Engineer.
• Familiarity with circuit design, schematic capture, component selection, circuit testing, and debugging.
• Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Responsibilities

• Own flight critical power system design for X-BAT.
• Design power electronics for high and low voltage systems including inverters, DC-DC converters, battery management.
• Lead others to execute design, verification, and manufacturing deployment.
• Mentor and provide technical feedback to the power team and cross-functional teams.
• Harden designs for harsh environments (shock/vibe, high reliability, radiation, high altitude).
• Work on power sub-systems for both <1 kW and >10 kW.
• Full-cycle hardware development from concept to validation.

Skills

Power electronics

Circuit design

Altium

Clearance desirable

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

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 redefining autonomous aviation with cutting-edge AI and GPS/RF-denied navigation technologies. Now, we’re building our next-generation aircraft XBAT like no other—one that will push the boundaries of innovation and performance.

What you’ll do:

• Own flight critical power system design for X-BAT
• Design power electronics for the high voltage and low voltage systems. This includes inverters, DC-DC converters, battery management, and other power electronics
• Lead others to execute design, verification, and manufacturing deployment
• Provide mentorship and technical feedback to others on the power team and cross-functionally
• Harden the designs for harsh environments such as shock/vibe, high reliability, radiation, and high-altitude
• Work on power sub-systems and designs for both low power (<1 kW) and high power (>10 kW)
• Full-cycle hardware development: Own the entire flow — concept, modeling, worst case analysis, schematic capture, simulation, prototyping, design reiteration for improving design maturity, testing and validation
• PCB ownership: Drive PCB layout and design with ECAD engineers, optimizing for power density, EMI, thermal, and manufacturability
• Design for Safety, Manufacturability and Reliability: Design robust systems keeping in mind best practices for safety, manufacturing and reliability
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with Mechanical, CAD, Embedded, Software, Supply Chain, Test Automation, Production and various aircraft teams throughout the product lifecycle
• Design review leadership: Lead and contribute to cross-functional reviews ensuring robust, high-integrity engineering decisions. Mentor junior engineers that support your design
• Program execution: Manage project timelines, deliverables, and technical milestones to drive on-time, high-quality outcomes

Required qualifications:

• You have a B.S. in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• You have 10+ years of experience as an Electrical Engineer
• You are experienced with: circuit design, schematic capture, component selection, circuit testing, and debugging
• You have a demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others
• Familiarity with Altium or equivalent
• Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

$210,000 - $310,000 a year

Seattle, Washington pay range: $250,000 - $380,000

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 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.