Software Test Engineer, Next-Gen Aircraft (R3696)
Shield AI
Quality Assurance
Dallas County, TX, USA
Posted on Aug 29, 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., Boston, 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.
Shield AI has been redefining autonomous aviation with cutting-edge AI and GPS/RF-denied navigation technologies for the past few years. Now, we’re building a next-generation aircraft like no other—one that will push the boundaries of innovation and performance, equipped with Hivemind autonomy.
We’re looking for a Software Test Engineer to join the Software Integration & Operations team, with the primary responsibility to build automated tests and capabilities for new aircraft’s sensors, avionics, and flight control software.
This is an opportunity to build something new and solve problems the industry does not realize exist. You will work directly with our Embedded and OS teams to define tests and build automation solutions that use hardware, simulation, and custom fixtures that support continuous integration and testing of new software. You’ll be supported by world-class engineers, but you’ll keep expected to learn quickly and deliver new software or tests weekly.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Implement software interfaces and drivers to orchestrate simulation environments, hardware devices, and test equipment – enabling real-world behaviors, failure injection, and hardware manipulation
- Define test cases to verify and validateembedded software at a system level, automating them to run continuously
- Prototype innovative capabilities to automate aircraft software testing
- Support release test planning and execution leading up to flight test events and major product milestones
- Work cross-functionally across Aircraft Autonomy & Software teams to derive requirements for the aircraft system, test infrastructure, and quality gates. Partner with our Hardware Test team to define and obtain the hardware infrastructure we need.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Typically, 2+ years of related experience with aBachelor’sdegree (CE, CS, EE); or some industry experience (intern, startup, self-projects) with a Master’s or PhD degree
- Strong C++ or Python skills, basic proficiency in the other
- Experience in automated testing or bare-metal firmware development
- Familiarity with common version control (git) and build/packaging systems (CMake, Poetry, etc)
- Demonstrated record of working hard, strong communication skills, being a trustworthy teammate, and being kind to others
- Passion for growth, fast-paced environments, and holding self to standard of excellence
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- 2+ years building automated test solutions for aircraft or autonomous vehicles
- Intermediate to advanced skills in Python and C++
- Great testing skills for integrated software systems
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.