Senior Field Services Engineer (R6380)

The role

You will coordinate demo flight operations, equipment staging, logistics and field execution for flight tests, demonstrations and customer events. You will also act as operator and subject matter expert for Group 1/2 UAS assets and help turn field feedback into recommendations for engineering teams.

What you will do

• Work with the test team and business development on product capabilities and customer requirements.
• Develop representative mission scenarios and assess operational effectiveness, usability and field readiness.
• Operate flight test platforms in daily fly-fix-fly verification activities.
• Serve as primary operator for Group 1/2 UAS platforms during testing and demonstrations.
• Configure, inspect, maintain and troubleshoot aircraft, payloads, autopilots and ground control stations.
• Coordinate aircraft readiness, pre-flight inspections, launch and recovery, and post-flight maintenance.
• Execute operational test procedures and mission plans while following safety requirements.
• Support development and enforcement of standard operating procedures and checklists.
• Ensure compliance with FAA regulations, airspace requirements and company flight operations standards.
• Assist with flight planning, airspace coordination, mission scheduling and operational risk assessments.

Required qualifications

• 4+ years operating and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms.
• Strong background working with military units, foreign and domestic.
• Strong knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilots, ground control stations, communications systems and payload integration.
• Ability to engage customer UAS and ground operators on mission requirements.
• Clear understanding of customer mission-essential tasks and concepts of operations.
• Experience developing and executing SOPs, checklists and operational processes.
• Working knowledge of FAA regulations, National Airspace System operations and flight authorization.
• Experience conducting flight operations in dynamic and complex test environments.
• Strong understanding of mission planning, operational employment, logistics and field coordination.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to brief large groups.
• Ability to turn qualitative user feedback into structured requirements or recommendations.
• FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent UAS operational experience.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting C2 operations, tactical communications, aviation or maritime operations, and operational test and evaluation events.
• Experience supporting autonomy, AI-enabled systems or developmental flight test programs, especially multi-aircraft or distributed UAS operations.
• Experience in training delivery, sustainment planning and range/event support.
• Familiarity with QGC, Mission Planner, ArduPilot and PX4.
• U.S. military or government agency UAS operations experience.

Benefits

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

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance.
• All offers are contingent on a cleared background check 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.