Shield AI

Power Electronics - Thermal Engineer I

Shield AI$76K — $114K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related discipline
  • Experience through internships or engineering clubs focused on avionics or electronics thermal engineering
  • Understanding of heat transfer and fluid mechanics principles
  • Proficient with thermal analysis and CFD tools (e.g., FloEFD, ANSYS Icepak)
  • Familiar with CAD design tools like NX or SolidWorks
  • Ability to apply first-principles reasoning in engineering issues
  • Strong communication skills for technical presentations and discussions
  • Demonstrated adaptability to new tools and challenges in a startup environment

Responsibilities

  • Lead thermal analysis and design for UAV avionics including custom power electronics
  • Create and validate models for heat transfer and fluid flow using calculations and CFD tools
  • Provide insights for trade studies, system architecture decisions, and risk assessments
  • Collaborate with teams on power electronics circuit and environmental enclosure design
  • Influence design decisions related to circuit part selection, layout, and material use
  • Oversee test planning, instrumentation, and data analysis for model correlation
  • Communicate technical findings through presentations and reports
  • Identify risks and propose solutions to guide PCBA design direction

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Equity opportunities
  • Flexible work environment
  • Professional development support
Full Job Description
Job Description:
Are you a passionate and innovative Thermal Engineer looking to help develop state of the art aircraft? 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 Thermal Engineer at Shield AI, you will lead the design, analysis, and integration of aircraft avionics thermal management systems. We are designing a high voltage, high power system using custom power electronics and energy storage. This role is best suited for an engineer who thrives on first-principles problem solving, is comfortable with design challenges, and values extreme ownership. The engineer will be a key contributor in ensuring robust thermal solutions that meet mission-critical aerospace requirements.

What you'll do:

  • Own thermal analysis and design efforts for unmanned aerial vehicle avionics including custom power electronics
  • Develop and validate analytical, numerical, and computational models for heat transfer and fluid flow using hand calculations and CFD tools such as FloEFD
  • Provide input to trade studies, system architecture decisions, and risk assessments
  • Assist cross-functional teams designing power electronic circuits and environmental enclosures
  • Contribute to design requirements that impact circuit part selection, board layout, material selection, and other design aspects
  • Drive test planning, instrumentation, and data analysis to correlate models with experimental results
  • Communicate technical findings clearly through executive-level briefings, design reviews, and written reports
  • Proactively identify risks, propose solutions, and influence electrical and/or PCBA design direction


Required qualifications:

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline
  • Internship or engineering club experience in avionics or electronics thermal engineering
  • Knowledge of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) and fluid mechanics
  • Familiarity with thermal analysis and CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Icepak, FloEFD, STAR-CCM+)
  • Experience with CAD design tools such as NX, SolidWorks, or similar
  • Demonstrated experience applying first-principles reasoning to engineering problems
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of leading technical discussions and presenting to stakeholders
  • Proven ability to learn and adapt quickly to new tools, processes, and technical challenges in a fast paced, startup environment


$76,000 - $114,000 a year

#LI-JM2

#LA

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

About Shield AI

Shield AI is a defense technology company that develops artificially intelligent systems for military applications. The company was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, and Andrew Reiter, and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Shield AI's products include autonomous drones and software that can be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other military operations. The company's mission is to reduce the number of military casualties by providing soldiers with better intelligence and situational awareness. Shield AI has received funding from a number of investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund.
Learn more about Shield AI
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2015

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