Staff Fuel System Engineer for Autonomous Aircraft

Shield AI; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Fuel System Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and fielding of a next-generation autonomous aircraft fuel system. This role requires ownership of requirements, architecture, interfaces, hardware, and decisions from concept through operational deployment.

The position emphasizes strong thermofluid fundamentals, hands-on testing, collaboration with propulsion and flight teams, and the ability to deliver meaningful capability to operators while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• 7+ years in aerospace fuel/ fluid systems with ownership of complex hardware.
• Strong thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and flow.
• Experience with fuel system design, venting, cavitation and thermal effects.
• Hands-on integration, testing, and failure investigation.
• Proficient in Python for analysis and model correlation.
• U.S. Citizenship and active security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own requirements, architecture, interfaces, and hardware for the fuel system from concept to deployment.
• Design and integrate tanks, pumps, valves, plumbing, venting and pressurization.
• Analyze performance across operating envelope and validate with testing and flight data.
• Lead design reviews, supplier engagements, and hardware procurement.
• Plan component and vehicle-level testing and ensure flight readiness.
• Work with propulsion, vehicle teams, and flight operations to troubleshoot and iterate.

Skills

Python

Thermodynamics

Fluid dynamics

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

MS or PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

GFSSP

REFPROP

CFD

ANSYS

FEA

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Staff Fuel System Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and fielding of a next-generation autonomous aircraft fuel system. This role requires ownership of requirements, architecture, interfaces, hardware, and decisions from concept through operational deployment.

The position emphasizes strong thermofluid fundamentals, hands-on testing, collaboration with propulsion and flight teams, and the ability to deliver meaningful capability to operators while