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Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company developing autonomous aircraft systems, autonomy software (Hivemind), and simulation technologies for military and civilian operations globally. The Operational Safety Specialist is a Staff-level individual contributor role focused on building and scaling Shield AI's operational safety programs across flight operations, ground environments, and multiple aircraft programs including the X-BAT platform.
In this role, you will serve as a central technical authority for safety execution and continuous improvement. You will develop, implement, and maintain operational safety policies, standards, and procedures for flight, ground, maintenance, test, and field activities. Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and maintaining safety cases for all aircraft, including traceability among hazards, operational mitigations, procedures, training, and verification evidence
- Supporting the Airworthiness team in creating, reviewing, and controlling documentation and objective evidence for airworthiness and readiness decisions
- Maintaining the Operational Risk Registry and conducting risk assessments for flight test, engine runs, ground operations, launch and recovery, maintenance, and field deployments
- Supporting safety reviews, test and operational readiness reviews, fielding assessments, and approval activities by ensuring required artifacts are complete and available to decision-makers
- Building and maintaining Emergency Response Program readiness, including plans, notification protocols, roles, checklists, site coordination, training, exercises, and corrective actions
- Conducting audits and field observations to assess compliance with approved procedures, identify process drift, and verify corrective action effectiveness
- Leading or supporting mishap, near-miss, and emergency-event investigations, including evidence collection, root-cause analysis, reporting, and corrective-action follow-through
- Developing safety metrics and readiness indicators
- Supporting customer and government safety engagements, documentation requests, and reporting obligations
You will work closely with Flight Safety, Ground Operations, Airworthiness, Engineering, EH&S, and Program teams. This is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; is detail-oriented; and brings strong analytical and communication skills.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in safety, aviation, engineering, emergency management, or a related discipline (or equivalent operational experience)
- 3-5+ years of experience in aviation safety, flight or test operations, UAS operations, military aviation, safety management systems, or emergency response
- Experience developing or reviewing operational policies, procedures, risk assessments, readiness documentation, or emergency response plans
- Working knowledge of safety management systems, operational risk management, mishap investigation, corrective action, and emergency preparedness principles
- Strong technical writing, document-control, and analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex inputs into clear, usable operational products
- Ability to work effectively across engineering and operational teams, support flightline and test-site activities, travel as needed, and work non-standard hours when operations require it
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience supporting UAS, autonomous aircraft, military aviation, or developmental flight-test programs
- Experience supporting airworthiness documentation, safety cases, certification evidence, or operational approval packages
- Familiarity with MIL-STD-882, DCMA 8210.1, FAA or ICAO safety management frameworks, or similar aviation safety standards
- Experience developing or exercising aviation emergency response plans, incident command procedures, or emergency operations programs
- Formal training in mishap investigation, root-cause analysis, human factors, emergency management, or safety auditing
- Active or eligible security clearance
