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Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Flight Test Engineer / Test Director to serve as the end-to-end technical authority for integration, verification, and flight test of Hivemind Mission Autonomy on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This is a high-impact individual contributor role with significant technical leadership scope across defense autonomy programs.
You will own the technical direction, execution, and readiness of test campaigns, applying a fly–fix–fly methodology to rapidly mature autonomy capabilities from simulation and lab environments through flight operations. As the single technical authority for test execution, you are responsible for determining test readiness, directing test conduct, managing risk, and ensuring data-driven decisions throughout development and flight test operations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Act as Test Director for system-level integration and flight test campaigns of Hivemind Mission Autonomy on UAS and external platforms
- Own test readiness decisions, including entry/exit criteria for lab, simulation, ground, and flight test phases
- Plan, direct, and execute fly–fix–fly test campaigns with rapid iteration while maintaining disciplined configuration control and safety
- Define and enforce test strategy, including system-level verification and validation, test phasing, and objective prioritization
- Direct cross-functional test execution, coordinating across engineering disciplines and test operators
- Determine test infrastructure requirements, including SIL, HIL, simulation environments, flight test assets, and automated test pipelines
- Approve and oversee test procedures, test cards, and execution plans as the final authority during test conduct
- Define performance metrics and success criteria, ensuring test data is actionable and traceable to requirements and mission outcomes
- Lead flight test risk assessments, hazard analyses, and mitigation planning; enforce safety-of-flight discipline
- Serve as primary test interface to internal leadership, customers, and external stakeholders, providing clear reporting on test progress, results, and risks
- Establish test standards, SOPs, and best practices aligned with industry and DoD DT&E/OT&E expectations
- Document test results, anomalies, corrective actions, and lessons learned, driving continuous improvement
- Support travel to test sites, customer events, and integration activities as required
You will lead cross-functional teams across engineering, safety, and program management, aligning stakeholders around clear objectives, disciplined execution, and continuous learning.
REQUIREMENTS:
- B.S. degree in a STEM discipline (Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field)
- 7+ years of experience in system integration and test, including SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight test environments
- Demonstrated experience leading test execution, including authority over test conduct, readiness, and risk decisions
- Strong background working cross-functionally with systems engineering, software, hardware, safety, and program management teams
- Highly organized and methodical, with the ability to manage complex, fast-paced test campaigns
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including briefing technical status to leadership and customers
- Demonstrated integrity, accountability, and commitment to high standards while fostering a collaborative, respectful team environment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Working knowledge of DoD DT&E and OT&E processes and documentation expectations
- Direct experience with UAS, autonomy, or robotic flight test operations
- Prior role as Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer
- Experience operating within DoD software and hardware laboratories or government flight test ranges
- Familiarity with safety-of-flight processes, hazard analysis, and configuration control in flight test environments
