Principal Engineer, Fluid & Thermal Systems (R4793)

Shield AI is hiring a Principal Engineer, Fluid & Thermal Systems (R4793) in Seattle, United States. It pays $250k-$370k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Shield AI.

Level's read on this job

Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
Level classes it as a lead role.
Shield AI has 657 other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting 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. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

Are you an experienced and innovative Fluid & Thermal Systems Engineer looking to help shape the future of AI and robotics technology? Are you eager to make a meaningful impact on cutting-edge products that matter? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment alongside highly motivated and values-focused teammates? Shield AI is the perfect place for you!

As a Staff Fluid & Thermal Systems Engineer at Shield AI, you will lead the design, development, and optimization of fluid and thermal systems for our advanced autonomous UAVs and ground systems. Your expertise fluid & thermal system design will drive innovation, prototyping, testing, and the successful integration of solutions that operate reliably in challenging environments. This role requires technical leadership, collaboration with cross-functional teams, and an unwavering commitment to delivering excellence from concept to production.

What you'll do:

Own design and analysis of fluid and thermal systems for aircraft and ground platforms.
Develop and implement innovative thermal solutions
Use first-principles engineering to drive design decisions to yield optimal solutions
Research technologies for integration into complex solutions
Conduct advanced simulations to predict system performance and refine designs
Execute testing and validation efforts, including data acquisition, post-processing, and verification against requirements
Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to integrate fluid and thermal system designs into larger system architectures.
Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering technical growth and excellence within the team.
Identify suppliers and build successful supplier management relationships for procurement of components or systems for fluid and thermal system designs
Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications:

Minimum 10+ years of experience in Fluid or Thermal System design, with a proven track record of technical excellence.
B.S. or advanced degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline.
Deep understanding of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and system-level thermal management.
Experience implementing system models in commercial tools, such as MATLAB Simscape, Amesim, etc.
Experience developing custom engineering models in Excel and in languages such as MATLAB, Python, etc.
Experience in fluid and thermal system testing, including sensor integration, data acquisition, and analysis.
Expertise in 3D CAD modeling tools such as Siemens NX or equivalent.
Demonstrated ability to execute projects with minimal oversight, assume full ownership, and deliver exceptional outcomes.
Excellence in supplier management, COTS component sourcing, optimization/trade studies
Proven success in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
Ability to obtain a S//SAR level security clearance desired.

Preferred qualifications:

Extensive experience with fluid & thermal system design, analysis, manufacture and test for aircraft
Familiarity with fluid and thermal system effects on aircraft performance
Familiarity with startup or R&D environments, demonstrating adaptability and agility under pressure.
Strong knowledge of environmental standards and certification processes for aerospace or defense systems.
A passion for innovation and the ability to push boundaries in fluid & thermal system development.

#LI-MS1 #LF
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. ### 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.

How we rate this

Principal Engineer, Fluid & Thermal Systems (R4793) at Shield AI rates 31 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Principal Engineer, Fluid & Thermal Systems (R4793) is an open job at Shield AI.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $250k-$370k a year.
The role is based in Seattle, Washington.
The job was posted on April 15, 2026.
Seniority: lead.
Applications are handled by Shield AI. Apply on Shield AI