Staff Engineer, Flight Test (R6064)

The role

You will plan and carry out integration and flight tests of Hivemind AI Pilot capabilities on Group 5 UAS and Autonomous Collaborative Platforms. You will coordinate test readiness and safety, and lead day-to-day test execution across simulation, lab and flight environments.

What you will do

• Develop and execute integration and flight test plans across simulation, SIL, HIL, ground and flight test environments
• Coordinate readiness of simulation environments, integration labs, aircraft and flight test assets
• Define test objectives, performance metrics and success criteria traced to requirements
• Lead and support aircraft integration and flight test activities, including real-time troubleshooting and post-flight data analysis
• Coordinate with platform OEMs, government ranges and flight operations to set test readiness criteria
• Coordinate cross-functional execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, flight operations, safety and program leadership
• Evaluate test results, identify technical issues and recommend corrective actions

Required qualifications

• 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
• Understanding of aircraft performance, flight operations and environmental effects on mission planning and safety
• Experience with system-level verification and validation across 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 validation
• Ability to communicate with pilots, operators and engineers to develop flight test objectives, mission plans and risk mitigations
• Excellent technical leadership and communication skills, including briefing program leadership and external customers
• Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required

Nice to have

• Military aviation experience as aircrew, flight test engineer, mission systems operator, or engineer on 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 for autonomous aircraft
• Experience supporting Autonomous Collaborative Platforms, 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
• Experience with airworthiness processes, flight clearance and configuration control
• Familiarity with Git, Jira/Azure DevOps and CI/CD pipelines
• Active SECRET clearance

Benefits

• Bonus for full-time regular employees
• Equity for full-time regular employees
• Benefits package for full-time regular employees
• Temporary benefits package for temporary employees, applicable after 60 days of employment

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship required
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance
• All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits

About the company

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company that builds intelligent systems to protect service members and civilians. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation technologies.