# Staff Engineer, Thermal - Air Vehicle (R4856)

**Company:** [Shield AI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/shield-ai)
**Location:** Dallas, TX, San Diego, CA
**Role:** Hardware Engineering
**Salary:** $140k – $210k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** Cfd, Floefd, Star-Ccm+, Thermal Desktop, Nx, Solidworks, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, CAD, Thermal Analysis
**Posted:** 2026-04-22

> Develops thermal systems for VTOL strike aircraft, performing analysis, CFD modeling, trade studies, and testing validation. Requires 7+ years experience in thermal engineering, expertise in heat transfer/fluid mechanics, and proficiency in tools like FloEFD and STAR-CCM+.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Execute thermal analysis and characterization efforts for unmanned aerial vehicle aircraft-level thermal systems.
- Architect and validate analytical, numerical, and computational models for heat transfer and fluid flow using hand calculations, finite difference methods, and CFD tools such as FloEFD.
- Execute trade studies, make system architecture decisions, own requirements generation, and make 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 design reviews and technical reports.
- Proactively identify thermal risks, propose solutions, and influence aircraft thermal design.

## Required Qualifications
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum 7 years of professional experience in thermal engineering.
- Deep expertise in **heat transfer** (conduction, convection, radiation) and **fluid mechanics**.
- Advanced understanding of active and passive cooling solutions.
- Knowledge of thermal management techniques for aircraft bays, engine bays, and hot surfaces.
- Proficiency with thermal analysis and **CFD tools** (e.g., **FloEFD**, **STAR-CCM+**, **Thermal Desktop**).
- Proficiency with **CAD design tools** such as **NX**, **SolidWorks**, or similar.
- Demonstrated ability to apply first-principles reasoning to complex engineering problems.
- Strong communication and leadership skills.

## Preferred Qualifications
- M.S. in a relevant engineering discipline.
- Extensive experience with high-altitude aircraft thermal management, analysis, and 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 aerospace thermal management.
- Experience guiding trade studies.
- Background in multi-disciplinary system integration, spanning avionics, fluid systems, and systems engineering.

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