Principal Propulsion Engineer (R6453)

Shield AI; Seattle (WA); Presencial; USD 260.000 - 400.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Shield AI in the United States is seeking a Propulsion Design Engineer to lead CAD-driven design and production release of propulsion components for UAV platforms. You will own subsystems from concept through production, enforce GD&T, and collaborate with machining, production, and test teams to deliver reliable hardware.

The role requires 7+ years in aerospace mechanical design, NX expertise, and experience with PLM (Teamcenter). U.S.

Formación

• 7+ years of mechanical design experience in aerospace, with propulsion hardware preferred.
• Expert CAD modeling and drawing creation with GD&T application.
• Experience collaborating with production, machine shop, and technicians to solve hardware issues.
• Familiarity with manufacturing design, machining, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Experience with PLM systems (Teamcenter) and BOM structures.
• U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements; ability to obtain Secret clearance.

Responsabilidades

• Own the design of propulsion components and subsystems from concept through production release.
• Develop CAD models, drawings, and assemblies using NX with GD&T applied.
• Write and enforce propulsion design standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with machine shop, production, and technicians to support builds and improvements.
• Develop work instructions and documentation for repeatability and scalability.
• Ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, and validated by analysis.
• Support configuration management, BOM control, and change processes (PLM).
• Participate in design reviews and root cause investigations.

Conocimientos

Aerospace mechanical design

NX CAD modeling

GD&T expertise

Teamcenter PLM

Cross-functional collaboration

US Citizenship/ITAR

Educación

Bachelors in Mechanical/Aerospace

MS/PhD (preferred)

Herramientas

ANSYS

GFSSP

REFPROP

Python scripting

Descripción del empleo

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-BATaircraft, 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. visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

We are seeking a highly skilled Propulsion Design Engineer to serve as a senior technical contributor within our propulsion team. This role focuses on the design, release, and continual improvement of mechanical components and assemblies for internal combustion and jet propulsion systems on UAV platforms.

As a design engineer, you’ll lead complex CAD efforts, enforce rigorous design standards, and collaborate directly with Responsible Engineers, technicians, machinists, and production teams to ensure our propulsion hardware is functional, manufacturable, and testable. You will be the cornerstone of configuration control, interface discipline, and design-for-execution within the team.

What You'll Do

• Own the design of propulsion components and subsystems from concept through production release
• Develop and maintain high-quality CAD models, detailed drawings, and assemblies using Siemens NX with fully applied GD&T
• Write and enforce propulsion design standards and contribute to company-wide design best practices
• Collaborate closely with the machine shop, production team, and technicians to support builds, resolve non-conformances, and drive iterative improvements
• Develop initial work instructions, assembly guidance, and design documentation for repeatability and scalability
• Ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, and cost-effective, with strong understanding of machining, tolerances, materials, and assembly workflows
• Apply engineering analysis and judgment (e.g., hand calcs, GFSSP, ANSYS, FEA, REFPROP) to support sizing, load cases, and design validation
• Support configuration management, BOM control, and change processes using Teamcenter or equivalent PLM
• Participate in design reviews, interface control working groups, and root cause investigations

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 7+ years of experience in mechanical design for aerospace, with direct propulsion hardware experience preferred
• Expert-level proficiency in CAD modeling and drawing creation (NX preferred) and application of GD&T
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with production, machine shop personnel, and technicians to solve real-time hardware issues
• Familiarity with design for manufacturing, including machining processes, surface modeling, stack-up analysis, and fabrication limitations
• Hands-on experience developing assembly work instructions, troubleshooting build issues, and implementing hardware-driven design changes
• Experience with configuration management, PLM systems (Teamcenter), and BOM structure
• U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements; Ability to obtain Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with GFSSP, REFPROP, ANSYS, FEA, or other mechanical and thermal analysis tools
• Ability to write Python scripts for design automation, data analysis, or simulation support
• Proficient in interface control and tolerance stack-up analysis for complex assemblies
• Knowledge of fastening methods and joint design for high-vibration, aerospace environments
• Familiarity with high-temperature materials and design practices for thermally stressed components
• Prior experience designing hardware for internal combustion, turbine, or rocket propulsion systems, particularly in development or test environments
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline

$260,000 - $400,000 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.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed toequal 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.