Description
Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems.
As a Senior 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 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
Responsibilities:
- Act as Test Director for system-level integration and flight test campaigns of Hivemind Mission Autonomy on 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
- Perform other duties as assigned
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 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