Staff Propulsion Engineer for Autonomous Aircraft

Speedrun Talent Network; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI, a defense-tech company, seeks a Staff Propulsion Engineer to design, integrate, and field a next-generation autonomous aircraft system. You will own propulsion hardware across requirements, procurement, build, test, flight, and support, interfacing with suppliers and internal teams.

The role requires strong propulsion fundamentals, hands-on problem solving, and the ability to work in a fast-paced development environment while ensuring mission readiness and product performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• 7+ years of aerospace propulsion development, integration, test, or flight operations.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Responsible Engineer for propulsion hardware from requirements through procurement, build, test, flight, and deployment.
• Own engine performance, interfaces, operability, transients, margins, and vehicle-level impacts.
• Lead design reviews, supplier engagements, and hardware procurement to meet performance, thermal, structural, reliability, and mission requirements.
• Plan and execute propulsion testing with instrumentation, data acquisition, performance validation, and readiness for flight.
• Analyze ground and flight data to understand engine behavior, quantify margin, and drive improvements.
• Lead root cause investigations using analysis, inspection, testing, and data to develop corrective actions.
• Collaborate with design engineers, technicians, controls, fluids, airframe, manufacturing, supply chain, test, and flight teams to integrate propulsion hardware.
• Mentor engineers and strengthen propulsion team practices.

Skills

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

MS or PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

GFSSP

REFPROP

ANSYS

FEA

CFD

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Shield AI, a defense-tech company, seeks a Staff Propulsion Engineer to design, integrate, and field a next-generation autonomous aircraft system. You will own propulsion hardware across requirements, procurement, build, test, flight, and support, interfacing with suppliers and internal teams.

The role requires strong propulsion fundamentals, hands-on problem solving, and the ability to work in a fast-paced development environment while ensuring mission readiness and product performance.