About the role
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 and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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: We are seeking a Manager of Propulsion to lead fuel system development and integration for the X-BAT vehicle, powered by a fighter-class, afterburning jet engine. This role oversees the architecture, integration, testing, and operational support of flight-critical fuel systems operating across demanding thermal environments, aggressive maneuvering conditions, and mission-critical operating profiles. You will lead engineers and technicians responsible for fuel tanks, fuel delivery systems, venting, pressurization, level sensing, and associated propulsion fluid systems. This role requires deep technical understanding, strong execution leadership, and close coordination across propulsion, flight test, manufacturing, and vehicle integration teams. \n
What you'll do: Lead fuel system development activities from architecture through testing and flight operations. Support and mentor fuel system REs responsible for fuel tanks, pumps, valves, vent systems, and associated propulsion hardware. Drive system integration efforts considering elevated-G maneuvers, transient operation, vapor ingestion, cavitation, thermal effects, and fault tolerance. Guide teams through fuel system thermodynamic and fluid dynamic trade studies involving heat soak, vapor pressure behavior, venting, and transient flow response. Coordinate testing activities, instrumentation planning, and performance validation efforts. Support failure investigations, root cause analysis, and design iteration activities. Ensure schedules, technical execution, and supplier activities remain aligned with program goals. Collaborate closely with propulsion, airframe, mission systems, and manufacturing teams. Required