Staff Fuel System Engineer for Autonomous Aircraft

Shield AI; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 146,000 - 219,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a Staff Fuel System Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and fielding of a next-generation autonomous aircraft fuel system. You will own execution from requirements and architecture to build, test, flight, and operations, interfacing with propulsion, vehicle teams, suppliers, and flight ops.

The ideal candidate has strong thermofluid fundamentals, hands-on hardware experience, and the ability to drive complex problems in a fast-paced defense-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of aerospace fuel systems or related aircraft system development experience.
• Strong thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer knowledge.
• Experience in fuel system design, including valves, pumps, venting and fittings.
• Hands-on fluid system hardware integration, testing, and failure investigations.
• Proficiency in Python or similar for analysis, data reduction, and model correlation.
• U.S. Citizenship and active security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Responsible Engineer for the aircraft fuel system from requirements through deployment.
• Design, size, and integrate fuel tanks, pumps, valves, plumbing, venting and pressurization systems.
• Analyze fuel system performance across operating envelope and conditions.
• Lead technical design reviews, supplier engagements, and hardware procurement.
• Plan and execute component, subsystem, and vehicle-level testing, data acquisition, and flight readiness.
• Analyze ground and flight data to validate performance and drive improvements.
• Lead failure investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with design, propulsion, controls, airframe, manufacturing, and flight teams to build and iterate flight hardware.

Skills

Python

Analytical skills

Ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

MS/PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

GFSSP

REFPROP

CFD

ANSYS

FEA

Job description

Shield AI seeks a Staff Fuel System Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and fielding of a next-generation autonomous aircraft fuel system. You will own execution from requirements and architecture to build, test, flight, and operations, interfacing with propulsion, vehicle teams, suppliers, and flight ops.

The ideal candidate has strong thermofluid fundamentals, hands-on hardware experience, and the ability to drive complex problems in a fast-paced defense-focused environment.