← All roles

Manager, Environmental Control Systems & Thermal Engineering (R6306)

Shield AI· X-BAT Division – X-BAT Engineering - Mechanical
Apply on company site
Seattle, WA$200k - $300kFull Time EmployeePosted 4d ago

About the role

Manager role leading a team responsible for environmental control systems, aircraft thermal management, and related fluid and heat-transfer hardware on the X-BAT program and Group 5 programs, combining people leadership with technical direction in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Responsibilities

  • People Leadership and Development: Manage, mentor, and develop individual contributors; set goals, give feedback, support growth, and build a high-trust, high-standard team.
  • Team Planning and Execution: Set priorities, ownership, staffing, and execution cadence for X-BAT and Group 5 work; remove blockers and manage dependencies.
  • Technical Direction and Review: Guide ECS and thermal architecture, trades, and design reviews across thermal environments, cooling, airflow, ducting, heat exchangers, fluid circuits, and related hardware.
  • Requirements, Risk, and Maturity: Set expectations for requirements, reviews, verification, risk management, configuration control, and design release through flight-ready hardware.
  • Vehicle Integration and Interfaces: Resolve interfaces with structures, propulsion, avionics, EWIS, payloads, manufacturing, systems engineering, and test teams.
  • Test and Flight Readiness: Lead component, qualification, ground, and flight test planning; ensure data, anomaly resolution, and corrective actions support hardware delivery.
  • Hardware and Suppliers: Set expectations for components, specifications, SOWs, supplier reviews, prototype builds, and acceptance activities.
  • Hands-On Technical Leadership: Engage in first-principles analysis and root-cause investigations, coach engineers, and unblock complex technical problems.
  • Communication and Accountability: Represent the team in program and engineering reviews; communicate decisions, risks, progress, resources, and dependencies.

Qualifications

  • Clearance required: US Citizens Only & Must have an Active Secret or higher clearance.
  • 8+ years in aerospace environmental control systems, thermal engineering, fluid systems, or comparable aircraft mechanical systems development.
  • Experience directly managing and developing individual contributors, including setting expectations, giving feedback, and supporting career growth.
  • B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • Deep understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and aircraft thermal management.
  • Ability to guide architecture, requirements, analysis, design, integration, and verification through hardware delivery.
  • Sound engineering judgment, early risk identification, and clear communication across technical and program teams.
  • Record of working hard, building trust, maintaining high standards, and treating others with kindness.

Skills

Required:Leadership and People ManagementThermal/Fluid Systems ArchitectureRequirements and VerificationIntegration and InterfacesTest Planning and Flight ReadinessFirst-Principles Analysis

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Temporary employee pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
  • Salary compensation influenced by skill set, experience, licenses/certifications, and location; offers contingent on cleared background and possible reference check
  • Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Shield AI

Autonomy for the world.

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

AerospaceAutonomyDefenseliquid-ai-recruiting-targetsetter-30setter-30-2026-q1
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Shield AI