Senior Staff Engineer, Test Director (R5445)

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

As a Staff Flight Test Engineer / Test Director, you will serve as the end-to-end Test Director for the integration, verification, and flight test of Hivemind Mission Autonomy on small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Responsibilities:

• Act as Test Director for system-level integration and flight test campaigns of Hivemind Mission Autonomy on small UAS and external platforms.
• Own test readiness decisions, including entry/exit criteria for lab, simulation, ground, and flight test phases.
• Plan, direct, and execute fly–fix–fly test campaigns, ensuring rapid iteration while maintaining disciplined configuration control and safety.
• Define and enforce test strategy, including system-level verification and validation, test phasing, and prioritization of objectives.
• Direct cross-functional test execution, coordinating across various engineering disciplines and test operators.
• Determine test infrastructure requirements, including SIL, HIL, simulation environments, flight test assets, and automated test pipelines.
• Approve and oversee test procedures, test cards, and execution plans, serving as the final authority during test conduct.
• Define performance metrics and success criteria, ensuring test data is actionable and traceable to requirements and mission outcomes.
• Lead flight test risk assessments, hazard analyses, and mitigation planning; enforce safety-of-flight discipline during operations.
• Serve as primary test interface to internal leadership, customers, and external stakeholders, providing clear reporting on test progress, results, and risks.
• Establish test standards, SOPs, and best practices aligned with industry and DoD DT&E/OT&E expectations.
• Document test results, anomalies, corrective actions, and lessons learned, driving continuous improvement across autonomy flight test efforts.
• Support travel to test sites, customer events, and integration activities as required.

Required qualifications:

• B.S. degree in a STEM discipline (Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field).
• 7+ years of experience in system integration and test, including SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight test environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading test execution, including authority over test conduct, readiness, and risk decisions.
• Strong background working cross-functionally with systems engineering, software, hardware, safety, and program management teams.
• Highly organized and methodical, with the ability to manage complex, fast-paced test campaigns.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including briefing technical status to leadership and customers.
• Demonstrated integrity, accountability, and commitment to high standards while fostering a collaborative, respectful team environment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Working knowledge of DoD DT&E and OT&E processes and documentation expectations.
• Direct experience with small UAS, autonomy, or robotic flight test operations.
• Prior role as Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer.
• Experience operating within DoD software and hardware laboratories or government flight test ranges.
• Familiarity with safety-of-flight processes, hazard analysis, and configuration control in flight test environments.

Benefits:

• 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.