Senior Flight Test Engineer (R4221)
Shield AI
Quality Assurance
Washington, DC, USA
USD 110k-170k / year + Equity
Posted on Dec 6, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With nine offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
As a Senior Flight Test Engineer, you will lead hands-on flight test campaigns for next-generation autonomous aircraft systems powered by Hivemind Mission Autonomy. You will operate at the intersection of systems engineering, test operations, and aerospace integration by designing, planning, and executing complex flight test activities on unmanned and optionally piloted platforms. Your work will directly influence the performance, safety, and reliability of cutting-edge AI-enabled flight systems deployed for mission-critical applications.
You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop test strategies, validate system requirements, and ensure flight readiness through rigorous verification, simulation, and flight testing. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who thrives in fast-paced environments, excels at technical leadership, and is motivated by achieving real-world results that advance the future of autonomous aviation.
What you'll do:
- Drive end-to-end test campaigns for integrating Hivemind Mission Autonomy onto a variety of unmanned and autonomous aircraft platforms.
- Develop and execute system-level test strategies including planning, verification, validation, and readiness assessments.
- Review and analyze both simulated and live flight test results to validate system functionality, assess performance metrics, and identify areas for improvement.
- Prepare and deliver technical reports, test summaries, and data packages for internal and external stakeholders.
- Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams to align test objectives and ensure efficient system integration.
- Establish and manage Software- and Hardware-In-the-Loop (SIL/HIL) environments, simulation tools, and automated test pipelines to validate mission autonomy behaviors.
- Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies to ensure safe and compliant flight operations.
- Serve as a technical lead during virtual and live flight test events, including pre-flight setup, real-time mission monitoring, data acquisition, and post-flight analysis.
- Develop test documentation including procedures, test cards, checklists, results summaries, and lessons learned.
- Support the creation of data dashboards and visualization tools for tracking test results, performance metrics, and anomaly trends.
- Drive continuous improvement of test methodologies, tools, and workflows for efficiency, quality, and repeatability.
- Support travel to flight test ranges, customer integration sites, and defense partner test events as required.
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline such as Aerospace, Electrical, Computer, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering.
- Minimum of ~4 years of experience in test engineering, with emphasis on flight test operations, aerospace integration, or mission system verification.
- Hands-on experience with Software/Hardware-In-the-Loop environments, simulation tools, and system integration labs.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and document structured aircraft test campaigns.
- Solid understanding of systems engineering principles and verification/validation processes as they pertain to Aerospace.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface effectively across engineering and program management teams.
- Proven record of collaborative leadership, technical ownership, and sound engineering judgment.
- Willingness to travel to flight test and integration sites as needed.
Preferred qualifications:
- Basic proficiency in software development or scripting (for example, Python) for test automation, data parsing, or flight log analysis.
- Experience with Department of Defense test programs, including DT&E and OT&E processes.
- Background in UAS, autonomous systems, or AI-enabled flight control testing.
- Familiarity with DoD or industry flight test safety standards and range operations.
- Experience working in DoD system integration laboratories or equivalent high-fidelity simulation environments.
- Familiarity with flight test data acquisition systems, telemetry, and post-flight analysis tools.
- Test Pilot School coursework or collaboration experience with military or experimental flight test organizations.
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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.
110000 - 170000 USD a year