Staff Propulsion Engineer (R2855)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide.  For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.    

Job Description:

We are seeking a Propulsion Engineer IV to lead the development and advancement of next-generation UAV propulsion systems, including heavy-fuel two-stroke engines and jet propulsion platforms. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of tactical propulsion by contributing at every stage of the lifecycle—from system architecture and detailed design to test, flight, and operational deployment—while also driving team development, process maturity, and technical excellence.

You’ll serve as a key technical leader and mentor within the propulsion team, working hands-on with hardware while guiding system-level decisions that impact aircraft performance, reliability, and mission capability. The ideal candidate has deep experience in tactical or high-performance aerospace propulsion systems and is excited to elevate not only the technical bar of the team but also its strategic role within the organization.

• Serve as technical lead or system architect for advanced propulsion projects—owning requirements, design, and performance validation.
• Drive cross-functional coordination between propulsion, controls, airframe integration, and flight test teams.
• Lead hands-on development and testing, from bench-level debug to full-scale flight campaigns.
• Guide root-cause investigations, define corrective actions, and implement sustainable improvements.
• Mentor early-career engineers and technicians, promoting engineering rigor and knowledge transfer.
• Develop and refine internal processes, tools, and best practices to increase team velocity and quality.
• Represent the propulsion team in executive-level reviews, strategy discussions, and roadmap planning.
• Contribute to proposals, customer engagements, and technical vision for the department.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in propulsion system development, including internal combustion and/or turbine architectures.
• Demonstrated ownership of propulsion hardware from cradle to grave, including system sizing, design, integration, test, and deployment.
• Strong foundation in thermodynamics, combustion, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Expert-level proficiency with Python for analysis, automation, or modeling workflows.
• Extensive hands-on experience in test environments, including data review, diagnostics, and instrumentation.
• U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.

• Experience supporting turbine engines for high-performance or tactical aerospace platforms, including UAVs or jet aircraft.
• Familiarity with REFPROP, GFSSP, or similar thermal/fluid analysis tools.
• Experience with rocket propulsion, thermal protection systems, or high-temperature aerospace environments.
• Knowledge of engine control systems, sensor integration, and feedback-based tuning.
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Proficiency in Siemens NX for mechanical design and Teamcenter for PLM and documentation management.
• Skilled in authoring and reviewing engineering documentation, including test plans, design specs, and technical reports.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a hardware-focused, test-driven development environment.
• Experience influencing strategic technical direction, staffing needs, and roadmap prioritization.

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Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.