Staff Engineer, Fluid and Mechanical Systems - Ranger (R6379)

Shield AI•Seattle, WA

3d•$170,000 - $255,000

About The Position

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. The company has offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, and its technology supports operations worldwide. As a Staff Fluid and Mechanical Systems Engineer, you will be a hands-on, multidisciplinary owner of fluid-system layouts, thermal transport hardware, and adjacent mechanical design for a Group 5 UAV fighter aircraft. You will use first-principles engineering to develop ram-air circuits, liquid cooling systems, ECS/TMS fluid architecture, and supporting mechanical installations that are buildable, maintainable, and ready for vehicle integration. The role calls for technical rigor, rapid decision-making, and practical engineering to move concepts into operational capability in an accelerated aircraft development environment.

Requirements

At least 6 years of fluid systems design, thermal systems analysis, or mechanical systems installation experience in aerospace or a comparable regulated industry.
B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Deep mastery of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mechanical design fundamentals, and tolerance stack-up methodologies.
Demonstrated capability in fluid-system sizing and analysis, including pressure drop, flow networks, heat transfer, and 1D fluid or thermal system modeling.
Ability to create fluid-system layouts and mechanical installations that meet routing, packaging, maintainability, structural-interface, and vehicle-integration requirements.
Experience with 3D CAD modeling, routing, layouts, and drawing release using Siemens NX, CATIA, Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent PLM workflows.
Hands-on capability designing brackets, mounts, supports, and installation hardware using hand calculations, tolerance analysis, and basic structural analysis.
Track record sourcing COTS/custom aerospace components, driving suppliers to schedule, and assembling benchtop or vehicle-level test setups.
Ability to self-direct, prioritize technical tasks without oversight, and deliver functional hardware under tight timelines.

Nice To Haves

Aircraft ram-air, liquid cooling, hydraulic, fuel, or thermal transport loop design experience.
ECS or thermal management system design and integration experience.
Experience with electro-mechanical or electro-hydrostatic actuation systems and associated mechanical installations.
Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, MIL-HDBK-516, and airworthiness verification planning for fluid and mechanical systems.
Hands-on prototype-build, fabrication, or mechanical assembly experience in a rapid R&D environment.
Eligibility to obtain a Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

Own fluid-system layouts, thermal transport hardware, and adjacent mechanical design for a Group 5 UAV fighter aircraft.
Develop ram-air circuits, liquid cooling systems, ECS/TMS fluid architecture, and supporting mechanical installations.
Create buildable, maintainable installations ready for vehicle integration.
Apply first-principles engineering and make timely technical decisions to transition concepts into operational capability.