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Shield AI, a venture-backed defense-tech company, is seeking a Staff Engineer, Flight Test to lead and execute comprehensive flight test operations for advanced autonomous aircraft systems. You will develop and publish flight test plans, procedures, risk assessments, and safety reviews. Your responsibilities include supporting integration and testing of aircraft systems, payloads, communications/data links, software, ground control systems, and mission equipment. You will lead pre-flight, flight, and post-flight activities including system configuration, instrumentation, telemetry collection, and test reporting. You'll analyze ground and flight test data to identify performance trends, anomalies, and root causes, then coordinate with engineering teams to validate requirements and troubleshoot issues. You will lead or participate in test range operations, safety briefings, and go/no-go decisions. You'll document test results, lessons learned, and recommendations in technical reports, support aircraft maintenance and configuration control, and create processes to improve flight test efficiency and operational workflows. You'll also establish and maintain ground and air operating limitations requirements. Travel to test sites, customer locations, and field exercises is required. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge autonomous systems including Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and advanced simulation technologies that actively support operations worldwide.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)
- 8+ years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned/manned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering
- Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight dynamics, avionics, telemetry, sensors, or control systems
- Proven ability to write and execute structured test plans, procedures, and reports
- Strong troubleshooting skills in field and/or lab environments
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work across engineering and operations teams
- Willingness to travel and work outdoors, fields, or test range environments
- Availability for overtime and weekend coverage as required
- U.S. Citizenship with in-scope active Secret clearance required to start
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- 2+ additional years of developmental and/or operational ground and flight test experience with unmanned aircraft systems
- Experience with Group 4-5 UAS and/or fighter-type capability or similar weapons systems
- Familiarity with FAA, DoD, and test range flight operations
- Experience with autonomy, navigation, mission planning, and Command-and-Control (C2) systems
- Hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance, avionics integration, payload integration, and ground support equipment
- Experience with telemetry systems, flight and data logs, sensor data, datalinks, and RF systems
- Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or crewed aviation experience
- Proven Mission Control Room experience using Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS) or similar development FTI display system
- Experience leading or supporting developmental flight test campaigns from design through planning and execution to reporting
