Principal Thermal Engineer - Aircraft Avionics & Thermal Systems (R3930)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.

Job Description :

Are you a passionate and innovative thermal engineer looking to help develop state of the art AI and aircraft products? Are you eager to make a positive difference in the world? Do you want to work alongside mission-driven and values-focused teammates? Shield AI is just the place for you!

As a Principal Thermal Engineer at Shield AI, you will own and drive the architecture, design, and integration of avionics and aircraft-level thermal management systems, with opportunities to influence fluid systems and multidisciplinary designs.

This role is best suited for an engineer who thrives on first-principles problem solving, can set technical direction for ambiguous, open-ended challenges, and bridges technical disciplines with clear communication and leadership. You will shape designs, guide engineering teams, and deliver robust thermal solutions that meet mission-critical aerospace requirements.

What you'll do :

• Lead thermal analysis and design efforts for unmanned aerial vehicle avionics and aircraft-level thermal / fluid systems.
• Architect and validate analytical, numerical, and computational models for heat transfer and fluid flow using hand calculations and CFD tools such as FloEFD.
• Provide leadership in trade studies, system architecture decisions, and technical risk assessments.
• Define and oversee test planning, instrumentation, and data analysis to correlate models with experimental results.
• Mentor and guide cross-disciplinary teams in applying thermal / fluid fundamentals.
• Communicate technical findings through executive-level briefings, design reviews, and technical reports.
• Proactively identify program risks, propose solutions, and influence avionics and PCBA design direction.
• Represent Shield AI in technical reviews, proposals, and customer interactions.

Required qualifications :

Preferred qualifications :

Shield AI offers a competitive salary package, including pay, bonus, benefits, and equity. The salary range for this position is $194,094 - $291,140 per year.

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.

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