Maintenance Technician, Next Gen Aircraft (R4419)
Shield AI
USD 40-61 / hour + Equity
Posted on Jan 23, 2026
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 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:
Shield AI is seeking a highly skilled Maintenance Technician to support the development, testing, and maturation of X-BAT, the world’s first autonomous VTOL jet aircraft. This role is responsible for hands-on maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, and repair of propulsion, airframe, avionics, and support systems in a fast-paced experimental flight test environment.
The Maintenance Technician will work closely with Flight Test, Propulsion, Crew Chief, and Engineering teams to ensure aircraft readiness, configuration integrity, and safe execution of ground and flight operations. This position requires strong technical depth, disciplined maintenance practices, and experience working with turbine-powered aircraft.
What you'll do:
- Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on X-BAT air vehicle systems including propulsion, fuel, electrical, avionics, and flight control subsystems.
- Execute inspections, servicing, troubleshooting, and corrective maintenance in accordance with engineering instructions, maintenance procedures, and test requirements.
- Support jet engine operations including installation, removal, borescope inspections, servicing, and post-run inspections.
- Assist with engine run, hover, and flight test preparations including pre-test inspections, configuration verification, and post-test discrepancy resolution.
- Maintain accurate maintenance records, logbooks, configuration status, and discrepancy tracking documentation.
- Collaborate with engineers and technicians to diagnose mechanical, electrical, or avionics anomalies and implement corrective actions.
- Support ground support equipment (GSE) operation, inspection, and upkeep.
- Adhere to all safety, hazard control, PPE, and test area access requirements.
- Participate in root-cause investigations, corrective action implementation, and continuous improvement of maintenance processes.
- Support field deployments, remote test sites, and extended test operations as required.
Required qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent; technical or vocational training in aviation maintenance strongly preferred.
- FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification.
- 5+ years of hands-on aircraft maintenance experience with turbine-powered or jet aircraft.
- Demonstrated experience performing maintenance, inspection, and troubleshooting on propulsion systems.
- Strong understanding of aircraft mechanical, electrical, fuel, and avionics systems.
- Experience working in experimental, flight test, or developmental aviation environments.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, maintenance manuals, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to configuration control and maintenance discipline.
- Ability to work safely and effectively in high-tempo test operations.
- Willingness and ability to travel and support extended field test deployments.
Preferred qualifications:
- Prior experience maintaining experimental, prototype, or developmental aircraft.
- Experience supporting jet engine test programs, engine runs, or hover test operations.
- Background in military or high-performance aviation maintenance environments.
- Familiarity with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or autonomous platforms.
- Experience working alongside flight test engineers and instrumentation teams.
- Knowledge of structured safety and risk management processes (ORM, THA, SMS).
- Ability to obtain and maintain required security clearances, if applicable.
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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.
40 - 61 USD