Thermal Design Engineer II for Autonomous Aircraft

Shieldai; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Thermal Engineer to own the design, analysis, and integration of thermal management for the launch and recovery systems of its autonomous aircraft. You will develop models, perform CFD analyses, prototype, test, and lead cross-functional trade studies.

The role requires first-principles problem solving, clear communication, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment while delivering reliable cooling solutions.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 2+ years of thermal engineering experience.
• Knowledge of heat transfer and fluid mechanics.
• Experience with CAD and CFD tools.

Responsibilities

• Own thermal solutions for launch and recovery systems.
• Develop and validate heat transfer and fluid flow models.
• Prototype, test, and iterate mechanism designs.
• Lead trade studies and system architecture decisions.
• Plan tests, instrumentation, and data analysis.
• Identify risks and influence design direction.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, avionics, and manufacturing teams.
• Support pre-production builds and flight testing.
• Participate in design reviews and technical decision forums.
• Improve design processes and team workflows.

Skills

First-principles problem solving

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Adaptability in startup environment

Education

BS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

MS in relevant engineering

Tools

ANSYS Icepak

FloEFD

STAR-CCM+

NX

SolidWorks

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Thermal Engineer to own the design, analysis, and integration of thermal management for the launch and recovery systems of its autonomous aircraft. You will develop models, perform CFD analyses, prototype, test, and lead cross-functional trade studies.

The role requires first-principles problem solving, clear communication, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment while delivering reliable cooling solutions.