Senior Propulsion Engineer

1w1 week ago

Shield AI

Dallas, US · Full-time · $160,000 – $220,000

About this role

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Products include V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and Hivemind Vision. The Senior Propulsion Engineer acts as Responsible Engineer for the X-BAT propulsion subsystem.

This role demands cradle-to-grave ownership of propulsion hardware—from requirements and architecture through design, build, test, flight, and operational support. Serve as focal point for technical matters on engine modules, fuel delivery, oil systems, bleed air, valves, or actuation. Ensure required performance, clean integration, and full operational demands.

Hands-on, analysis-driven work collaborates with design, fluids, controls, airframe, manufacturing, flight test, and mission teams. Lead ground and flight testing with instrumentation planning and data analysis. Analyze performance across the flight envelope to validate and identify anomalies.

Own engine fault management, failure investigations, and margin assessments on next-generation UAVs powered by low-bypass turbofan engines. Guide control logic development and represent in reviews and customer engagements. Support worldwide operations with offices across U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
5+ years of experience in jet engine development, testing, and integration.
Demonstrated ownership of engine hardware through test and flight operations.
Strong knowledge of aerospace engine fundamentals, including thermodynamic cycles, thrust modeling, operability limits, and transient response.
Hands-on experience in engine testing, including sensor planning, data systems, and test execution.
Proficiency in Python for performance analysis, data reduction, and model correlation.
U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
Experience with low-bypass turbofan engines on UAVs, tactical aircraft, or similar aerospace platforms.

Responsibilities

Act as the single-threaded owner for the engine, accountable for all technical decisions from concept to flight.
Define and manage engine requirements, interfaces, integration strategy, and performance goals.
Lead ground and flight testing of the engine, including instrumentation planning, data acquisition, and analysis of key performance parameters.
Analyze engine performance data across the flight envelope to validate behavior, identify anomalies, and close design-to-mission gaps.
Collaborate with airframe, controls, and mission engineering teams to ensure engine integration supports aircraft-level CONOPS, maneuverability, and reliability.
Own engine-level fault management, failure investigations, and margin assessments.
Guide the development of engine control logic and tuning, including throttle schedule design and transient response shaping.
Represent the engine in design reviews, technical readiness checkpoints, leadership briefings, and customer engagements.