Test Operations Manager
Shield AI
Operations
Dallas County, TX, USA
Posted on Jul 9, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. 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, YouTubeand Instagram.
Job Description:
Shield AI’s mission is to protect the lives of service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The Hardware Test Engineering team contributes to this effort by designing, building, and deploying, test solutions that drive high hardware reliability on all our vehicles: both V-BAT and our next-generation aircraft. These solutions are in-house designed electrical and mechanical equipment used to perform component and system-level testing, both at ambient and in simulated harsh environmental conditions.
As manager of the Test Operations Team, you will be responsible for the success of multiple technicians and specialists that report to you, in addition to your own projects. You will perform individual contributor work in addition to holding 1:1 meetings, writing reviews, and providing career guidance to your team. While leadership is an important part of this role, you are still expected to spend approximately 50% of your time as an individual contributor in your respective field. Your contributions will directly impact the success of Shield AI in addition to influencing the future of the Aircraft Engineering organization. Help us save lives as we strive to deliver the most highly reliable aerospace hardware in the industry.
What you'll do:
- Lead a team of technicians and specialists in designing, deploying, and maintaining test stands that support production and qualification of our aircraft.
- Build and maintain test stands, which include electrical, mechanical, and software elements. Test stands also include harnessing and other cabling.
- Perform regular 1:1s, provide career guidance, and document performance for all the individuals on your team.
- Respond to emergent issues on the production floor to keep test stands running.
- Contribute to and attend cross-functional design reviews. Advocate for design changes that result in simpler testing processes and test stand maintenance.
- Contribute to the entire employee lifecycle, from candidate identification and interviewing to career growth, promotion, or separation.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required qualifications:
- Experience leading teams of technicians in a high-volume production setting.
- Experience with hands-on technical work in a high-volume production setting.
- Experience building wiring harnesses and assembling circuit boards.
- Demonstrated history of showing ownership of project outcomes and delivering exceptional results.
- Record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.
Preferred qualifications:
- Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) for PCBA rework (IPC-7711/7721 or similar).
- Ability to make harnesses (IPC/WHMA-A-620 or similar).
- Experience performing rework from engineering redlines.
- Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, etc…
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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.