Propulsion Engineer
US$94,000 – US$142,000 / yr base salary
Posted 21 Sep 2026
Advertised as “Engineer II, Propulsion - Engine Performance (R5907)”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Level
- II
- Expected experience
- 2–3 yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- On-Site
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$94,000 – US$142,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or related)
Study levelMaster's or higher
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 Propulsion Performance Engineer to own engine calibration and performance for the reciprocating engines that power the V-BAT platform. This role serves as the technical owner for engine calibration strategy — driving test plans, ECU tuning, and performance analysis from bench through flight test — and is accountable for the torque, power, speed, and fuel efficiency characteristics the engine delivers across its full operating envelope.
You'll work hands-on with engine hardware, electronic fuel injection and engine control systems, and engine test stands, creating and executing engine testing strategies under the direction of senior staff propulsion engineers. Candidates with a background in air-cooled or aviation two-stroke engines are especially encouraged to apply; at minimum, we're looking for someone with deep hands-on experience on reciprocating engines (four-stroke or two-stroke) who can own calibration decisions with minimal oversight.
What You'll Do In This Role
- Support the engine calibration strategy by defining test plans, calibration methodology, and acceptance criteria across dynamometer, bench, and flight test campaigns.
- Perform ECU configuration and tuning (including fuel mapping, ignition timing, and injector phasing) to optimize engine performance, fuel efficiency, and reliability across the operating envelope.
- Analyze and deliver torque, power, and fuel consumption results, identifying calibration or hardware improvement opportunities and driving corrective action.
- Lead troubleshooting and root-cause investigations for engine testing for the development team and production teams.
- Reduce and interpret test and flight data to validate performance against requirements, closing gaps between design intent and measured behavior.
- Represent engine calibration and performance in design reviews, technical readiness checkpoints, and cross-functional discussions with design, controls, and flight test teams.