# Principal Engineer, Survivability

**Company**: Shield AI
**Location**: San Diego
**Work arrangement**: onsite
**Experience**: senior
**Job type**: full-time
**Salary**: $200,000 - $310,000 a year
**Category**: Engineering
**Industry**: Technology

**Apply**: https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/0d1400ec-f456-4d5b-8592-740a656260b0
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_b7c2d733-43f

## Description

At Shield AI, we're building the most intelligent autonomous aircraft ever deployed. As we push the boundaries of what's possible in contested environments, we are looking for a Survivability Engineer to shape and optimize the low observable (LO) performance of our next-generation autonomous aircraft.

This role is ideal for an experienced engineer with expertise in radar cross-section (RCS) shaping, LO materials, and electromagnetic signature modeling who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. You'll work across disciplines to ensure our aircraft can survive, evade, and complete missions in highly contested airspace.

### Responsibilities:

- Design and optimize low observable (LO) features across the airframe focusing on shaping, edge treatments, radar-absorbing materials, and subsystem integration.

- Conduct modeling and simulation of electromagnetic signatures using industry-standard tools such as HFSS, CST Studio Suite, Xpatch, and SENTRi.

- Work with multidisciplinary teams in propulsion, avionics, structures, and AI to ensure survivability is baked into the system architecture from day one.

- Lead or support signature testing efforts, including indoor and outdoor RCS range tests, validation campaigns, and supplier-level hardware evaluations.

- Translate mission threats and requirements into survivability features that address RCS, thermal, visual, and acoustic observability constraints.

- Partner with materials scientists to mature radar-absorbing coatings and structural RAM for manufacturability and field durability.

- Support internal and customer assessments, threat modeling reviews, and milestone decisions throughout the program lifecycle.

### Requirements:

- B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.

- 10+ years of hands-on experience in LO or survivability engineering, preferably on tactical aircraft, UAVs, or stealth systems.

- Proficiency with EM simulation tools such as HFSS, CST, Xpatch, or SENTRi.

- Strong understanding of RCS shaping principles, edge treatments, cavity suppression, and materials integration.

- Practical experience with LO testing methods and RCS measurement equipment.

- Familiarity with radar-absorbing materials (RAM), LO coatings, and structural LO trade studies.

- Solid collaboration and communication skills with the ability to work across design, test, and manufacturing teams.

- U.S. Citizenship and active Secret clearance required.

### Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience with military UAV platforms or 5th-gen fighter programs.

- Background in survivability analysis in contested environments (e.g., IADS, radar networks).

- Familiarity with platform CONOPS, threat modeling, and mission-level survivability assessments.

- Ability to contribute to the design, test, and fielding of a fully integrated LO platform.

- Active Top Secret or SCI clearance.

## Skills

### Required
- Radar Cross-Section (RCS) Shaping
- Low Observable (LO) Materials
- Electromagnetic Signature Modeling
- HFSS
- CST Studio Suite
- Xpatch
- SENRi
- Collaboration
- Communication

### Nice to have
- Military UAV Platforms
- 5th-Gen Fighter Programs
- Survivability Analysis
- Platform CONOPS
- Threat Modeling
- Mission-Level Survivability Assessments