Senior Staff Engineer, Environmental Control Systems (RX) (R5905)

The role

You will take full technical ownership of the Environmental Control System for a special access program, as the sole ECS subject matter expert. The work covers architecture, trades, sizing, hardware design, suppliers, testing and flight-test troubleshooting.

What you will do

• Lead ECS architecture definition and trade studies, such as vapor cycle vs. air cycle vs. passive/ram-air systems.
• Design and analyze air inlets, scoops, ducting networks and ram-air cooling circuits.
• Perform first-principles thermodynamic and heat transfer calculations backed by 1D fluid-thermal network modeling.
• Write technical specifications and statements of work for ECS hardware and evaluate vendors.
• Drive supplier technical execution.
• Define qualification and verification test plans, design test rigs and execute test campaigns.
• Process flight-test thermal and fluid data, perform root-cause investigations and implement rapid design changes.

Required qualifications

• US citizenship only.
• Active Secret or higher security clearance.
• 8 to 15 years of direct experience in aerospace Environmental Control System and vehicle thermal/fluid system development.
• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Deep mastery of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and heat transfer applied to aircraft or defense systems.
• Demonstrated capability with 1D system modeling (e.g., Amesim, Flowmaster, or Python/MATLAB fluid networks).
• Ability to size systems from inlets to ram circuits to liquid and air cooling systems.
• Experience in 3D CAD modeling, routing and drawing release with PLM workflows (Siemens NX preferred, or CATIA/Creo).
• Proven track record sourcing COTS or custom aerospace components, driving suppliers to schedule, and assembling benchtop or vehicle-level test setups.
• Ability to self-direct, prioritize technical tasks without oversight, and deliver functional hardware under tight timelines.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with aerospace environmental requirements and test standards (MIL-STD-810, MIL-HDBK-310, RTCA DO-160, SAE AIR/ARP standards).

Benefits

• Bonus for full-time regular employees.
• Equity for full-time regular employees.
• Benefits for full-time regular employees.
• Temporary benefits package for temporary employees, applicable after 60 days of employment.

Before you apply

• US citizens only.
• Active Secret or higher clearance is required.
• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company that builds intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.