Senior Flight Test Engineer (R2634)
Shield AI
Quality Assurance
Dallas County, TX, USA
Posted on May 8, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
Job Description:
Are you a passionate and innovative flight test engineer with deep hands-on experience in aircraft system-level testing? Are you looking to apply your expertise to cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies with real-world impact? At Shield AI, we’re building the future of autonomous flight—and we’re looking for a mission-driven, technically excellent Senior Flight Test Engineer to help lead the way.
As a Senior Flight Test Engineer, you will own the integration, test planning, and flight verification processes for our vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs, with a focus on mission capability, system performance, and flightworthiness. You’ll operate at the center of fast-paced product development and R&D efforts, collaborating cross-functionally to ensure our systems are rigorously tested, iterated on quickly, and delivered with excellence.
What you'll do:
- Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and post-analysis of complex ground and flight test campaigns for the V-BAT unmanned aircraft system.
- Serve as a flight test conductor during operations, leading pre-flight briefings, flight readiness reviews, and debriefs to ensure mission clarity and team alignment.
- Guide hardware and software troubleshooting and modifications based on real-time data and test results.
- Mentor junior engineers and operators in test design, execution, and flight safety practices.
- Perform risk assessments and develop test hazard analyses (THAs) and mitigation strategies to ensure safety of flight and compliance with test standards.
- Develop and maintain detailed test plans, test cards, and post-test reports to support iterative development and system validation.
- Collaborate closely with avionics, software, and mechanical teams to drive resolution of issues and validation of requirements.
- Identify and implement improvements to the flight test process, infrastructure, and toolchain to improve speed, safety, and reliability of testing.
Required qualifications:
- B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related STEM field.
- 5+ years of direct, hands-on experience in UAV or aircraft flight testing.
- Demonstrated ownership of major flight test efforts, including campaign planning, flight execution, and technical reporting.
- Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight controls, telemetry, instrumentation, and test safety.
- Proven experience in cross-functional collaboration and leading test events in high-stakes environments.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience delivering technical debriefs, reports, and risk assessments.
- Track record of thriving in fast-paced, iterative development environments.
- Comfortable working onsite in dynamic, hands-on testing environments (airfield, hangar, etc.).
Preferred qualifications:
- Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for data analysis and scripting.
- Experience building or prototyping small aircraft, UAVs, or RC systems.
- Familiarity with FAA Part 107 operations or flight safety protocols.
- Hands-on design experience (mechanical or electrical subsystems).
- Background in startup or advanced R&D flight test programs.
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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.
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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.