Staff Flight Test Engineer (R4380)

The role

You will lead ground and flight test planning and execution for the X-BAT autonomous VTOL jet aircraft. You will shape the flight test strategy, direct developmental test campaigns, and provide technical leadership across the program.

What you will do

• Lead ground and flight test campaigns for X-BAT, including test planning, execution, analysis and progressive flight envelope expansion.
• Define test objectives, test points, success criteria and instrumentation requirements.
• Develop and review test plans, procedures, flight test cards, hazard analyses and risk assessments.
• Lead pre-flight, flight and post-flight activities, including mission control room operations and go/no-go recommendations.
• Provide technical leadership during hover, transition and forward-flight testing.
• Serve as flight test subject-matter expert in Test Readiness Reviews, Test Hazard Analyses and Operational Risk Management assessments.
• Partner with engineering, autonomy, avionics and flight operations teams to integrate and evaluate aircraft systems and software.
• Analyze ground and flight test data, investigate anomalies and inform corrective actions.
• Document test results, anomalies and lessons learned in clear technical reports.
• Support test range coordination, field deployments and remote test sites.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM)
• 5-10 years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned or manned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering
• Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight dynamics, avionics, telemetry, sensors or control systems
• Proven ability to write and execute structured test plans, procedures and reports
• Strong troubleshooting skills in field and/or lab environments
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across engineering and operations teams
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 80% for candidates not based in the Wichita Metro Area
• Overtime and weekend coverage as required
• Active Secret Security Clearance

Nice to have

• 10+ years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering
• Experience in Group 4-5 UAS and/or fighter type capability or similar weapons systems
• Familiarity with FAA, DoW and test range flight operations
• Experience with autonomy, navigation, mission planning and Command-and-Control (C2) systems
• Hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance, avionics integration, payload integration and ground support equipment
• Experience with telemetry systems, flight and data logs, sensor data, datalinks and RF systems
• Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or crewed aviation experience
• Mission Control Room experience using Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS) or similar development FTI display system
• Experience leading or supporting developmental flight test campaigns from design through planning, execution and reporting

Benefits

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

Before you apply

• 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.