📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Fluid Systems Engineer (Dallas)
Company: Shield AI
Location: Dallas Metro Area
Job Type: Full-Time Employee
Category: Aerospace Engineering
Date Posted: 2025-06-26
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Design and develop high-performance fluid systems for jet-powered autonomous aircraft in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Contribute to the integration of fluid systems into tight packaging constraints, supporting long-endurance flight.
Collaborate with propulsion, thermal, and mechanical engineers to deliver flight-ready hardware for high-threat environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on propulsion fluid systems for advanced turbine engines, requiring a deep understanding of aerospace engineering principles and hands-on experience with fluid system design and integration.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Fluid System Design: Define flow path architecture, select and specify key components, and build system-level performance models for fuel routing, pressure regulation, air induction, and thermal transport.
Simulation & Analysis: Simulate and analyze fluid behavior under varying flight conditions using tools such as Thermal Desktop, MATLAB/Simulink, and ANSYS Fluent.
Collaboration & Integration: Work with cross-functional teams to integrate fluid systems into aircraft packaging constraints, ensuring performance and reliability.
Testing & Validation: Develop test plans and instrumentation strategies to validate fluid system behavior and performance, supporting flight test teams in instrumentation placement and post-flight data analysis.
Documentation & Reviews: Contribute to engineering documentation, including block diagrams, interface definitions, and hazard analyses, and participate in design reviews to advocate for best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in fluid system design fundamentals, with a focus on pressure drop, cavitation, flow regime transitions, and thermal effects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.

Experience: 8+ years of experience working with aerospace fluid systems, fuel circuits, or propulsion-adjacent subsystems.

Required Skills:

Strong working knowledge of fluid system design fundamentals.
Proficiency in modeling and simulation tools: Thermal Desktop, ANSYS Fluent, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar.
Familiarity with CAD-based collaboration and flight hardware tolerancing.
Excellent communication and documentation skills, thriving in collaborative, cross-functional environments.

Preferred Skills:

Experience supporting jet propulsion or hybrid-electric systems in aerospace or defense.
Familiarity with aerospace fittings, MIL-SPEC components, and thermal insulation strategies.
Exposure to fuel slosh, altitude effects on pressurization, or cryogenic fluids.
Background in flight test support or prototype-level validation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, a strong understanding of aerospace engineering principles and hands-on experience with flight hardware are essential for this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials: Highlight your experience with fluid system design, integration, and testing for aerospace applications. Include case studies demonstrating your ability to optimize performance, ensure reliability, and meet packaging constraints.
Technical Documentation: Showcase your ability to create clear and concise engineering documentation, including block diagrams, interface definitions, and hazard analyses. Emphasize your experience with design reviews and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this role focuses on aerospace engineering, your portfolio should emphasize your understanding of aerospace-specific components, materials, and design considerations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $141,305 - $211,957 a year

Benefits:

Bonus
Benefits
Equity

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible hours to support flight test and maintenance windows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is influenced by various factors, including skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. Be prepared to discuss your relevant experience and qualifications during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense technology, focusing on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems.

Company Size: Venture-backed, with offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia).

Founded: 2015

Team Structure:

Collaborative, cross-functional teams working on advanced turbine propulsion architecture for jet-powered autonomous aircraft.
Close collaboration with propulsion, thermal, and mechanical engineers to integrate fluid systems into aircraft packaging constraints.

Development Methodology:

Agile development processes, with a focus on iterative design, testing, and integration.
Regular design reviews to ensure performance, reliability, and compliance with aerospace standards.

Company Website: www.shield.ai

📝 Enhancement Note: Shield AI's mission and industry focus require a strong commitment to national security and a deep understanding of aerospace engineering principles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Aerospace Engineering Career Level: This role represents a senior-level position in the aerospace engineering field, focusing on the design, integration, and testing of high-performance fluid systems for jet-powered autonomous aircraft.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Group 5 UAV program's engineering leadership, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver flight-ready hardware for high-threat environments.

Technical Impact: Contribute to the development of advanced turbine propulsion architecture, enabling long-endurance, jet-powered autonomous flight in high-threat environments.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical leadership and mentoring opportunities within the fluid systems engineering team.
Exposure to emerging technologies and trends in aerospace engineering, with a focus on intelligent, autonomous systems.
Potential to expand your role and contribute to other aspects of the company's mission, such as software development, AI, or robotics.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for experienced aerospace engineers looking to advance their careers in a dynamic, innovative environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, with a collaborative, cross-functional work environment focused on aerospace engineering and defense technology.

Office Location(s): Dallas Metro Area

Workspace Context:

Collaborative workspace with access to state-of-the-art engineering tools and resources.
Close proximity to cross-functional teams, including propulsion, thermal, and mechanical engineers.
Flexible working hours to support flight test and maintenance windows.

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, with flexible hours to accommodate flight test and maintenance windows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment at Shield AI is fast-paced and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on innovation and cross-functional teamwork.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Technical Screening: Demonstrate your understanding of fluid system design fundamentals, with a focus on pressure drop, cavitation, flow regime transitions, and thermal effects.
Cross-Functional Team Interaction: Showcase your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including propulsion, thermal, and mechanical engineers.
Design Challenge: Present a case study or project demonstrating your ability to design, integrate, and test high-performance fluid systems for aerospace applications.
Final Evaluation: Discuss your career goals, technical expertise, and fit within the Shield AI team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience with fluid system design, integration, and testing for aerospace applications.
Include case studies demonstrating your ability to optimize performance, ensure reliability, and meet packaging constraints.
Showcase your ability to create clear and concise engineering documentation, including block diagrams, interface definitions, and hazard analyses.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your knowledge of fluid system design fundamentals, with a focus on pressure drop, cavitation, flow regime transitions, and thermal effects.
Familiarize yourself with relevant tools and software, such as Thermal Desktop, ANSYS Fluent, and MATLAB/Simulink.
Prepare for design challenges by reviewing your past projects and identifying key achievements in fluid system design, integration, and testing.

ATS Keywords: Fluid Systems, Propulsion, Thermal Transport, Component Selection, Simulation, Collaboration, Testing, Documentation, Design Reviews, Vendor Coordination, Instrumentation, MATLAB, ANSYS Fluent, Thermal Desktop, CAD, Aerospace, Jet-Powered Aircraft, Autonomous Flight, Defense Technology

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role will focus on your technical expertise in aerospace engineering, with a strong emphasis on fluid system design, integration, and testing.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Simulation & Analysis Tools:

Thermal Desktop
ANSYS Fluent
MATLAB/Simulink

CAD & Collaboration Tools:

Creo/NX/Inventor

Programming Languages:

Python (for scripting and automation)
C/C++ (for embedded systems and flight software)

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role focuses on aerospace engineering, familiarity with relevant programming languages and tools can provide a competitive advantage in the interview process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Aerospace Engineering Values:

Innovation and continuous learning
Collaboration and cross-functional teamwork
Performance optimization and reliability
Attention to detail and adherence to aerospace standards

Collaboration Style:

Close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including propulsion, thermal, and mechanical engineers.
Regular design reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions.
A culture of mentorship and technical leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at Shield AI is collaborative and innovative, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork and continuous learning.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Designing and integrating high-performance fluid systems for jet-powered autonomous aircraft in tight packaging constraints.
Ensuring performance, reliability, and compliance with aerospace standards in high-threat environments.
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver flight-ready hardware for advanced turbine propulsion architecture.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Exposure to emerging technologies and trends in aerospace engineering, with a focus on intelligent, autonomous systems.
Technical leadership and mentoring opportunities within the fluid systems engineering team.
Potential to expand your role and contribute to other aspects of the company's mission, such as software development, AI, or robotics.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant technical challenges and growth opportunities for experienced aerospace engineers looking to advance their careers in a dynamic, innovative environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Fluid System Design: Describe your approach to designing high-performance fluid systems for aerospace applications, with a focus on pressure drop, cavitation, flow regime transitions, and thermal effects.
Collaboration & Integration: Explain your experience working with cross-functional teams to integrate fluid systems into aircraft packaging constraints, ensuring performance and reliability.
Testing & Validation: Discuss your strategies for testing and validating fluid system behavior and performance, supporting flight test teams in instrumentation placement and post-flight data analysis.

Company & Culture Questions:

Mission & Values: Explain how your personal values and career goals align with Shield AI's mission to protect service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems.
Team Dynamics: Describe your experience working in collaborative, cross-functional teams, and how you've contributed to a positive work environment.
Growth & Development: Discuss your long-term career goals and how this role at Shield AI can help you achieve them.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Highlight your experience with fluid system design, integration, and testing for aerospace applications.
Include case studies demonstrating your ability to optimize performance, ensure reliability, and meet packaging constraints.
Showcase your ability to create clear and concise engineering documentation, including block diagrams, interface definitions, and hazard analyses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role will focus on your technical expertise in aerospace engineering, with a strong emphasis on fluid system design, integration, and testing. Be prepared to discuss your relevant experience and qualifications in detail.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Fluid Systems Engineer (Dallas) position:

Submit your application through the application link provided.
Customize your resume and portfolio to highlight your relevant experience with fluid system design, integration, and testing for aerospace applications.
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of fluid system design fundamentals, relevant tools and software, and reviewing your past projects.
Research Shield AI's mission, values, and company culture to ensure a strong fit with your personal values and career goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and aerospace engineering industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Staff Fluid Systems Engineer (Dallas)