Shield AI
Senior Propulsion Test Engineer (R4639)
$130K–$200K
Seattle, Washington · On-site · Senior · Full-time · Posted Mar 16, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years in propulsion or engine testing in aerospace development environments.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Visa sponsorship
- U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
About the job
Leads end-to-end propulsion testing for the X-BAT UAV, from test architecture and stand design through campaign execution, data analysis, and flight-readiness handoff.
What you'll do
- Own propulsion test programs, including test planning, execution, data review, reporting, and test-to-flight handoff.
- Design and build test stands and fixtures; define instrumentation, DAQ architecture, calibration, and procedures.
- Lead test campaigns, analyze results, investigate anomalies, and coordinate design or control updates with cross-functional teams.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in propulsion or engine testing in aerospace development environments.
- Hands-on experience with engine test cells, test stand design, instrumentation, and DAQ systems; strong understanding of gas turbine performance, transients, and test methodologies.
- Proficiency in Python (or similar) for data workflows; experience supporting flight test readiness and test-to-flight transitions; U.S. Citizenship or ability to comply with ITAR requirements.
Nice to have
- Experience with low-bypass turbofan engines or UAV/tactical aircraft propulsion; familiarity with REFPROP, GFSSP, ANSYS, or FEA.
- Experience with hot-fire test fixtures and safety systems, controls integration or TVC testing; M.S. in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
Pay
USD 130,000–200,000 per year (base salary)
Tools
Python, REFPROP, GFSSP, ANSYS, FEA, DAQ
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative