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Lead Fuel Systems Engineer
Company | Shield AI |
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Location | Dallas, TX, USA |
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Salary | $141305 – $252714 |
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Type | Full-Time |
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Degrees | |
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Experience Level | Expert or higher |
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Requirements
- 8 + years of experience in aerospace fuel systems engineering, fluid mechanics, and propulsion integration.
- Deep expertise in fuel storage, transfer, pressurization, and venting systems for high-performance aircraft or UAVs.
- Strong background in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
- Proficiency in CFD tools (ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM), MATLAB, Simulink, and CAD (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks).
- Experience with DO-160, MIL-STD-810, or other aerospace fuel system certification standards.
- Hands-on knowledge of fuel pumps, valves, sensors, and system integration testing.
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills for prototype and production fuel systems.
- US Citizenship required due to security clearance requirements.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design and integration of advanced fuel systems for autonomous aircraft in high-stakes missions.
- Optimize mission endurance and weight distribution through innovative fuel storage, transfer, venting, and pressurization solutions.
- Architect fail-safe, redundant fuel management systems to ensure operational flexibility and survivability.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with propulsion, avionics, thermal, and structures teams for seamless system integration.
- Apply CFD and system-level modeling to optimize fuel flow, minimize pressure losses, and enhance thermal stability.
- Oversee supplier selection, component qualification, and aerospace-grade fuel system testing.
- Solve real-world challenges like cavitation, thermal expansion, and high-altitude fuel behavior.
- Support fuel system testing, troubleshooting, and performance analysis for flight validation.
- Ensure compliance with FAA, MIL-STD, and aerospace fuel system regulations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with military UAVs, fighter jets, or high-endurance ISR platforms.
- Background in stealth fuel system design and vapor management.
- Knowledge of alternative fuel technologies, hybrid-electric propulsion, and advanced energy storage.
- Experience supporting flight test operations and mission endurance optimization.