Staff Engineer, Propulsion Systems Advance Manufacturing (R5185)

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and 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 Staff Propulsion Systems Manufacturing Engineer to lead manufacturing engineering activities for advanced propulsion and fluid systems used in aerospace and defense applications. This role supports engine integration, fuel systems, oil systems, pumps, and related propulsion hardware from development through production.  The ideal candidate has deep experience with propulsion-related manufacturing processes, fluid systems integration, and production support for mission-critical hardware. 

What you'll do:

Lead manufacturing engineering support for propulsion and fluid system assemblies  

Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, tooling, work instructions, and production flows for: 

Engines and propulsion systems  

Fuel systems and fuel tanks  

Oil and lubrication systems  

Pumps and fluid control hardware  

Aerospace vector and thrust systems  

Partner with design engineering to improve manufacturability, reliability, testability, and producibility 

Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions for propulsion manufacturing issues 

Develop work instructions, quality standards, and inspection methods  

Support supplier qualification, process validation, and production readiness reviews 

Lead DFM/DFA reviews and transition new products into manufacturing 

Support system integration, validation, and troubleshooting activities 

Define manufacturing standards, process controls, and acceptance criteria 

Support failure analysis and reliability improvement initiatives 

Collaborate with production, quality, supply chain, and test engineering teams 

Mentor junior manufacturing engineers 

Tools & skills:

MES & QMS systems

3DEXPERIENCE / Teamcenter (PLM) systems

Supplier manufacturing processes

5S/visual management

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Required qualifications:

7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience supporting propulsion or fluid systems  

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing 

Experience in prototype manufacturing in a startup or rapid-growth environment. 

Experience with:  

Engine assembly and integration  

Fuel and oil systems  

Precision fluid system manufacturing  

Aerospace propulsion hardware  

Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and adapt to changing priorities. 

Knowledge of manufacturing process development and production scaling  

Strong understanding of DFM/DFA principles  

Experience with root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies  

Preferred qualifications:

Aerospace or defense industry experience  

Experience supporting turbine, piston, hybrid-electric, or UAV propulsion systems  

Knowledge of pressure systems, leak testing, and fluid handling  

Familiarity with lean manufacturing and production optimization 

Experience with ERP/MES systems and manufacturing data analysis 

Strong project management skills, including experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines 

Knowledge of quality standards, such as AS9100 or ISO 9001 

Proficiency in CAD software 

#LI-JM1 #LD

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, leve …