Software Test Engineer, Next-Gen Aircraft (R3696)
Shield AI
What You'll Do:
- You will lead system-level software testing and verification for Shield AI’s upcoming next gen aircraft platform—our most complex, capable, and safety-critical aircraft. This role focuses on accelerating software maturity and validation through rigorous, automated, and traceable testing practices. You will:
- Own end-to-end system test strategy for software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) environments—scaling them for continuous integration and rapid release cycles.
- Design and implement mission-critical system test cases validating autonomous behaviors, requirements compliance, and operational edge cases across nominal, safety-critical, and degraded conditions.
- Coordinate and execute flight test and software release campaigns, working cross-functionally with autonomy, embedded systems, flight ops, and safety engineering teams.
- Develop and maintain tooling for requirements-test traceability, test result reporting, and release qualification to meet both internal and external safety standards.
- Drive system-level integration testing workflows, including regression, performance, fault injection, and safety-critical operational scenarios.
- Mentor junior engineers in best practices for high-assurance system verification, aircraft software development, and rigorous test design.
Required Qualifications:
- 7+ years' experience in system/software test engineering, including 3+ years with aerospace, defense, or autonomous vehicle platforms.
- Demonstrated track record of success in system-level testing and release efforts for complex, safety-critical platforms (preferably Group 5 UAS or equivalent).
- Excellent proficiency in automating test infrastructure using Python, C++, and other modern tools and approaches
- Very strong experience building and using simulation and hardware-in-the-loop capabilities for automated integration testing and continuous validation.
- Excellent understanding of requirements validation and traceability processes - ideally with experience building tools to automate and control processes.
- Working knowledge of aerospace verification standards (e.g., DO-178C) and/or airworthiness, safety case, or certification-aligned testing.
- Ability to work independently in fast-paced, ambiguous environments while collaborating across multiple disciplines - evidence of success thriving in these environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Direct experience supporting or leading flight test campaigns and airborne software releases.
- Hands-on experience with simulation frameworks, mission scenario scripting, or real-time test systems.
- Experience building tools for requirements-traceability, test coverage analysis, defect tracking, or test reporting.
- Strong familiarity with modern DevOps tools (e.g., Git, CI/CD, Docker).