Staff Thermal Engineer - Aircraft Avionics & Thermal Systems
Not Disclosed•Full-TimeOn-site
location_onBig Bully Turf, 350, Front Street, Banker's Hill, San Diego, San Diego County, California, 92101, United States
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with a mission to protect service members and civilians using intelligent systems. Our technology actively supports operations worldwide, with offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific. Our product lines include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and Hivemind Vision.
As a Staff Thermal Engineer, you will lead the design, analysis, and integration of aircraft avionics thermal management systems, with opportunities to flex into aircraft-level thermal and fluid systems. This role is designed for an engineer who thrives on first-principles problem solving and is comfortable navigating ambiguous, open-ended challenges.
You will bridge technical disciplines by simplifying and communicating complex problems to diverse stakeholders. As a key contributor, you will shape designs, mentor peers, and ensure robust thermal solutions that meet mission-critical aerospace requirements. You will work alongside mission-driven, values-focused teammates to develop state-of-the-art AI and aircraft products, making a positive difference in the world.
All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment; final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and 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.
Work model: On-site
Big Bully Turf, 350, Front Street, Banker's Hill, San Diego, San Diego County, California, 92101, United States
San Diego, California
M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline. Experience with high altitude aircraft avionics cooling and thermal design. Familiarity with aircraft integration constraints (power, weight, volume, maintainability, safety). Hands-on experience with thermal and fluid system testing, instrumentation, and validation. Knowledge of materials and manufacturing methods relevant to thermal management (pumps, heat exchangers, composites, etc.). Experience guiding trade studies, proposals, and customer interactions in aerospace or defense programs. Background in multi-disciplinary system integration, spanning avionics, fluid systems, and systems engineering.
Skills: Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Conduction, Convection, Radiation, Fluid Flow, CFD, Floefd, Ansys Icepak, Star-CCM+.
Education: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline required; M.S. in a relevant engineering discipline preferred; Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline preferred.
