Shield AI OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Shield AI hires OPT students for roles in autonomous systems, machine learning, and defense software engineering. The company is E-Verify enrolled, which means you can pursue the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12-month authorization, a meaningful runway toward full-time sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Are you a passionate and innovative thermal engineer looking to help develop state of the art AI and aircraft products? Are you eager to make a positive difference in the world? Do you want to work alongside mission driven and values focused teammates? Shield AI is just the place for you!
As a Level 2 Thermal Engineer at Shield AI, you will own the design, analysis, and integration of aircraft avionics thermal management systems and electronics cooling.
This role is best suited for an engineer who thrives on first-principles problem solving, is comfortable with ambiguous, open-ended challenges, and can communicate well across functions, ensuring well coordinated thermal management solutions.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Own thermal solutions for unmanned aerial vehicle avionics including design, analysis, and test.
- Develop and validate analytical, numerical, and computational models for heat transfer and fluid flow using hand calculations and CFD tools such as FloEFD.
- Provide technical leadership in trade studies, system architecture decisions, and risk assessments.
- Drive test planning, instrumentation, and data analysis to correlate models with experimental results.
- Guide cross-disciplinary teams in applying thermal/fluid fundamentals.
- Communicate technical findings clearly through design reviews, and written reports.
- Proactively identify risks, propose solutions, and influence electrical and/or PCBA design direction.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum 2 years of professional experience in avionics or electronics thermal engineering.
- Strong expertise in heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) and fluid mechanics.
- Strong understanding of active and passive cooling solutions and their integration at component and system level.
- Understanding of thermal management design elements including TIMs, spreaders, heat sinks, vapor chambers, heat pipes, and fans.
- Proficiency with thermal analysis and CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Icepak, FloEFD, STAR-CCM+).
- Experience with CAD design tools such as NX, SolidWorks, or similar.
- Demonstrated experience applying first-principles reasoning to complex engineering problems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to learn and adapt quickly to new tools, processes, and technical challenges in a fast paced, startup environment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- M.S. in a relevant engineering discipline.
- Experience with high altitude aircraft avionics cooling and thermal design.
- Familiarity with aircraft integration constraints (power, weight, volume, maintainability, safety).
- Hands-on experience with thermal and fluid system testing, instrumentation, and validation.
- Knowledge of materials and manufacturing methods relevant to thermal management.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $90,000 - $130,000 a year
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
INTRODUCTION
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Are you a passionate and innovative thermal engineer looking to help develop state of the art AI and aircraft products? Are you eager to make a positive difference in the world? Do you want to work alongside mission driven and values focused teammates? Shield AI is just the place for you!
As a Level 2 Thermal Engineer at Shield AI, you will own the design, analysis, and integration of aircraft avionics thermal management systems and electronics cooling.
This role is best suited for an engineer who thrives on first-principles problem solving, is comfortable with ambiguous, open-ended challenges, and can communicate well across functions, ensuring well coordinated thermal management solutions.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Own thermal solutions for unmanned aerial vehicle avionics including design, analysis, and test.
- Develop and validate analytical, numerical, and computational models for heat transfer and fluid flow using hand calculations and CFD tools such as FloEFD.
- Provide technical leadership in trade studies, system architecture decisions, and risk assessments.
- Drive test planning, instrumentation, and data analysis to correlate models with experimental results.
- Guide cross-disciplinary teams in applying thermal/fluid fundamentals.
- Communicate technical findings clearly through design reviews, and written reports.
- Proactively identify risks, propose solutions, and influence electrical and/or PCBA design direction.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum 2 years of professional experience in avionics or electronics thermal engineering.
- Strong expertise in heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) and fluid mechanics.
- Strong understanding of active and passive cooling solutions and their integration at component and system level.
- Understanding of thermal management design elements including TIMs, spreaders, heat sinks, vapor chambers, heat pipes, and fans.
- Proficiency with thermal analysis and CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Icepak, FloEFD, STAR-CCM+).
- Experience with CAD design tools such as NX, SolidWorks, or similar.
- Demonstrated experience applying first-principles reasoning to complex engineering problems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to learn and adapt quickly to new tools, processes, and technical challenges in a fast paced, startup environment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- M.S. in a relevant engineering discipline.
- Experience with high altitude aircraft avionics cooling and thermal design.
- Familiarity with aircraft integration constraints (power, weight, volume, maintainability, safety).
- Hands-on experience with thermal and fluid system testing, instrumentation, and validation.
- Knowledge of materials and manufacturing methods relevant to thermal management.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $90,000 - $130,000 a year
Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Job Roles at Shield AI
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Shield AI OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target STEM-designated roles at Shield AI
Shield AI's core work in AI autonomy and defense software maps to STEM OPT-eligible SOC codes. Before applying, cross-reference your intended role's job title against O*NET to confirm it qualifies for the 24-month extension, not all engineering titles do.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting
The 24-month STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Shield AI participates in E-Verify, but verify this with HR during the offer stage so your DSO can complete the I-983 training plan without delays before your initial OPT expires.
Align your resume to cleared-adjacent skill sets
Shield AI works on defense contracts where security clearance eligibility matters. As an F-1 student you won't hold a clearance, so position your resume around unclassified research, autonomy stacks, or simulation work that translates directly to roles Shield AI can fill with OPT hires.
Search Shield AI's verified OPT hiring history on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate surfaces Shield AI's OPT-compatible job listings and shows which roles have historically supported F-1 students. Use it to identify active openings before applying directly, so you're targeting positions where the hiring team already understands OPT work authorization timelines.
Initiate the H-1B conversation at the 12-month mark
If you join Shield AI on OPT, raise H-1B sponsorship during your six-month performance review, not at the end of your extension. Shield AI's talent acquisition team needs lead time to evaluate sponsorship, and the H-1B cap-subject registration window opens each March with a filing deadline shortly after.
Document your degree-to-role connection precisely
USCIS requires that your OPT employment be directly related to your degree. For Shield AI roles in robotics or AI systems, write a one-paragraph narrative linking your specific coursework to the job duties. Your DSO will need this for the I-983, and it protects your status if USCIS audits the training plan.
Shield AI OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shield AI sponsor OPT visas?
Shield AI doesn't sponsor OPT, USCIS grants OPT authorization directly to F-1 students, not through employers. What Shield AI does is hire students who already hold an OPT EAD, and the company is enrolled in E-Verify, which makes it eligible to support the 24-month STEM OPT extension for qualifying roles.
Which departments at Shield AI typically hire OPT students?
Shield AI's strongest OPT hiring tends to concentrate in software engineering, machine learning, autonomy systems, and flight testing teams. These groups work on unclassified components of Shield AI's platforms where F-1 students without security clearances can contribute directly. Research and simulation roles also appear regularly in their OPT-compatible openings.
How do I navigate the STEM OPT extension process while working at Shield AI?
You and Shield AI jointly complete the I-983 training plan, which your DSO submits to SEVIS. Shield AI's HR team needs to sign off on the training objectives and salary. File with your DSO at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. USCIS processes the extension application, not Shield AI.
How do I find OPT-eligible jobs at Shield AI?
Migrate Mate lists Shield AI's open positions and flags which roles align with STEM OPT-eligible SOC codes, saving you the step of manually checking each posting. You can also apply directly through Shield AI's careers page, but filtering by OPT compatibility is faster when you're tracking application deadlines against your EAD expiration date.
Does working at Shield AI on OPT improve my chances of H-1B sponsorship?
It can, but H-1B visa sponsorship is a separate employer decision made during your OPT period, not a guarantee that comes with being hired. Shield AI has sponsored H-1B visas for employees across engineering and technical roles. The earlier you have a direct conversation with your manager and HR about sponsorship intent, the more time both sides have to plan around the March registration window.
How does Shield AI hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Shield AI can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Shield AI's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.