Staff Propulsion Engineer (Jet)

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 Staff Propulsion Engineer to serve as the Responsible Engineer (RE) for a low-bypass turbofan engine that will power our next-generation UAV platform. This role demands full lifecycle ownership of the engine—from architecture and integration through test, flight, performance validation, and operational support.

You will serve as the focal point for all technical matters related to the engine, ensuring it delivers the required performance, integrates cleanly with the vehicle, and supports the full range of operational demands. This role is hands-on, analysis-driven, and highly cross-functional—requiring collaboration with design, controls, airframe, flight test, and mission teams.

• 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 (thrust, fuel flow, margin, transients).
• 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.

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in jet engine development, testing, and integration.
• Proven cradle-to-grave ownership of engine hardware, including sizing, integration, test, and flight.
• Deep 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.
• Strong proficiency in Python for performance analysis, data reduction, and model correlation.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret engine performance data, including altitude/mach sensitivities and system interactions.
• U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.

• Experience with low-bypass turbofan engines for UAVs, tactical aircraft, or similar aerospace platforms.
• Familiarity with GFSSP, REFPROP, ANSYS, or FEA for supporting thermal, fluid, or structural assessments.
• Experience with engine control development, including feedback tuning and transient validation.
• Background in rocket engine development, particularly in areas transferable to jet engine design, test, or integration.
• Proficiency in Siemens NX and Teamcenter for CAD and configuration control.
• Skilled in generating and reviewing technical documentation, including test reports, interface definitions, ICDs, and failure analyses.
• Ability to lead within a test-driven, hardware-centric aerospace development environment.
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

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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.