Staff Engineer, Flight Test (R6064)
Shield AI · Washington, United States · 2d ago
Staff / Lead / PrincipalOn-siteSoftware Engineering$140k – $210k
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and 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 Hivemind Solutions Staff Integration & Flight Test Engineer (ACP Programs), you will serve as a key contributor for the integration, verification, and flight test of Hivemind AI Pilot capabilities on Group 5 UAS/Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP).
You will translate program objectives into executable integration and flight test plans across multiple test environments. Using disciplined test, analysis, and feedback methodologies, you will drive rapid capability maturation while maintaining rigorous safety, configuration control, and mission assurance standards.
This role serves as the technical contributor for integration and flight test execution on assigned ACP programs, responsible for coordinating test readiness, managing technical and safety risk, and leading day-to-day test execution. Here, you will serve as the primary focal point to facilitate coordination across internal program leadership and functional teams, OEM partners, and government customers and stakeholders to deliver high-impact autonomy capabilities at scale. Successful candidates are curious engineers who use disciplined integration and flight test to generate knowledge, reduce technical risk, and accelerate delivery of operational capability.
What you'll do:
- Develop and execute detailed integration and flight test plans that support the overall program verification and test strategy across simulation, SIL, HIL, ground, and flight test environments
- Coordinate readiness of simulation environments, integration laboratories, aircraft, and flight test assets required to execute program objectives
- Apply aviation knowledge, aircraft performance and operational mission understanding to develop safe, efficient, and operationally relevant integration and flight test plans
- Define test objectives, performance metrics, and success criteria, ensuring traceability from requirements to test outcomes and operational capability
- Lead and support aircraft integration and flight test activities, including system configuration, software integration, mission planning, real-time troubleshooting, flight execution support, and post-flight data analysis
- Coordinate with platform OEMs, government ranges, and flight operations personnel to establish test readiness criteria and ensure technical and safety requirements are satisfied prior to test execution
- Coordinate cross-functional execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, flight operations, safety, and program leadership teams
- Evaluate test results, identify technical issues, and recommend corrective actions to improve system performance and accelerate capability maturation
Required qualifications:
- Typically requires 8+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 6+ years with a Master’s
- Demonstrated experience planning, conducting, and evaluating flight test of aircraft systems in military or defense aviation environments
- Strong understanding of safety-of-flight principles, risk management, and disciplined test execution in aviation environments
- Demonstrated understanding of aircraft performance, flight operations, and environmental effects influencing aircraft mission planning, test execution, and safety
- Experience with system-level verification & validation across multiple test environments (SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight)
- Experience working cross-functionally across software, hardware, avionics, systems engineering, safety, and program teams
- Experience with scripting or software tools (Python preferred) for test automation, data analysis, or system validation
- Ability to effectively communicate with pilots, operators, and engineers to develop executable flight test objectives, mission plans, and risk mitigations
- Excellent technical leadership and communication skills, including briefing to program leadership and external customers
- Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required
Preferred qualifications:
- Military aviation experience as aircrew, flight test engineer, mission systems operator, or engineer supporting military aircraft development or test programs
- Prior role as Flight Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer on full-scale aircraft programs
- Understanding of military air operations, mission planning, and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) supporting autonomous aircraft employment
- Experience supporting Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), loyal wingman concepts, or multi-vehicle autonomous systems
- Familiarity with DoD acquisition and developmental test processes
- Experience operating in or supporting government flight test ranges and operational environments
- Background in autonomy, AI/ML-enabled systems, or human-machine teaming in aviation contexts
- Experience with airworthiness processes, flight clearance, and configuration control for aircraft systems
- Familiarity with tools such as Git, Jira/Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines
- Active SECRET clearance
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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.