Senior Staff Flight Test Engineer (R2634)

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent, autonomous systems. Its products include Hivemind Enterprise—EdgeOS, Pilot, Commander, and Forge—as well as V-BAT and Sentient Vision Systems (wide-area motion imaging software). 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 and Instagram.    

Job Description:

Are you a deeply experienced and technically rigorous flight test engineer looking to lead groundbreaking work at the intersection of autonomy, aviation, and defense? Are you motivated by the opportunity to shape the test strategy of cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems in support of national security and real-world impact? Shield AI is seeking a Senior Staff Flight Test Engineer to lead high-consequence test programs across the full development lifecycle of our vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs.

As a Senior Staff Flight Test Engineer, you will define and drive system-level test strategies, ensure end-to-end integration of flight-critical systems, and lead multi-site, multi-phase flight test operations with technical excellence. Your leadership will directly influence product quality, safety, and performance in fast-paced prototyping and production environments.

• Own and execute the system-level test strategy for the V-BAT UAV across lab, ground, and flight environments.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams in the development, execution, and analysis of complex ground and flight test campaigns.
• Serve as principal test conductor during critical operations, overseeing flight readiness reviews, risk assessments, pre- and post-flight briefs, and safety-critical decision-making.
• Define and manage test configurations, including aircraft hardware, ground control systems, software baselines, and instrumentation assets.
• Develop and enforce standard operating procedures, test documentation standards, and continuous improvement practices across the test organization.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers on test engineering best practices, systems thinking, and root cause analysis.
• Drive out-of-cycle investigative test efforts, coordinating directly with engineering and product teams to validate new capabilities or resolve emergent issues rapidly.
• Lead qualification efforts, including Functional Acceptance Testing, test procedure development, and integration of hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop platforms.
• Collaborate closely with systems engineering, software, mechanical, and avionics teams to ensure verification activities trace to requirements and mission objectives.
• Author and present artifacts for safety reviews, regulatory submissions, and customer-facing technical documentation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in flight test engineering, with a proven track record of leading UAV or aircraft test programs from concept through validation.
• Deep experience designing, planning, executing, and analyzing both developmental and qualification test events.
• Demonstrated success working in cross-functional teams, especially in systems integration and root cause resolution.
• Hands-on proficiency with flight test instrumentation, telemetry systems, test planning tools, and post-flight data analysis.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, capable of influencing technical direction and driving execution in high-stakes environments.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive under pressure in a dynamic flight test environment.

• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for test automation and data analysis.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 or other military environmental test protocols.
• Prior experience with UAV operations, flight safety protocols, and FAA Part 107 operations.
• Experience building or prototyping small aircraft or RC systems.
• Proven background in leading R&D test programs in fast-paced or startup environments.

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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.