Shield AI · 1 month ago
Senior Flight Test Engineer (R4221)
Washington, DC
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$110K/yr - $170K/yr
4+ years expShield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. As a Senior Flight Test Engineer, you will lead flight test campaigns for autonomous aircraft systems, working closely with engineering teams to develop test strategies and ensure flight readiness.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Autonomous VehiclesDronesMachine LearningNational Security
Responsibilities
Drive end-to-end test campaigns for integrating Hivemind Mission Autonomy onto a variety of unmanned and autonomous aircraft platforms
Develop and execute system-level test strategies including planning, verification, validation, and readiness assessments
Review and analyze both simulated and live flight test results to validate system functionality, assess performance metrics, and identify areas for improvement
Prepare and deliver technical reports, test summaries, and data packages for internal and external stakeholders
Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams to align test objectives and ensure efficient system integration
Establish and manage Software- and Hardware-In-the-Loop (SIL/HIL) environments, simulation tools, and automated test pipelines to validate mission autonomy behaviors
Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies to ensure safe and compliant flight operations
Serve as a technical lead during virtual and live flight test events, including pre-flight setup, real-time mission monitoring, data acquisition, and post-flight analysis
Develop test documentation including procedures, test cards, checklists, results summaries, and lessons learned
Support the creation of data dashboards and visualization tools for tracking test results, performance metrics, and anomaly trends
Drive continuous improvement of test methodologies, tools, and workflows for efficiency, quality, and repeatability
Support travel to flight test ranges, customer integration sites, and defense partner test events as required
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's or Master's degree in a STEM discipline such as Aerospace, Electrical, Computer, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
Minimum of ~4 years of experience in test engineering, with emphasis on flight test operations, aerospace integration, or mission system verification
Hands-on experience with Software/Hardware-In-the-Loop environments, simulation tools, and system integration labs
Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and document structured aircraft test campaigns
Solid understanding of systems engineering principles and verification/validation processes as they pertain to Aerospace
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interface effectively across engineering and program management teams
Proven record of collaborative leadership, technical ownership, and sound engineering judgment
Willingness to travel to flight test and integration sites as needed
Preferred
Basic proficiency in software development or scripting (for example, Python) for test automation, data parsing, or flight log analysis
Experience with Department of Defense test programs, including DT&E and OT&E processes
Background in UAS, autonomous systems, or AI-enabled flight control testing
Familiarity with DoD or industry flight test safety standards and range operations
Experience working in DoD system integration laboratories or equivalent high-fidelity simulation environments
Familiarity with flight test data acquisition systems, telemetry, and post-flight analysis tools
Test Pilot School coursework or collaboration experience with military or experimental flight test organizations
Benefits
Bonus
Benefits
Equity
Temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Company
Shield AI
Shield AI is a deep-tech company that focuses on developing AI-powered systems to enhance the safety of service members and civilians.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Shield AI has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (3)
2021 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.31BKey Investors
Hercules CapitalUS Innovative Technology FundSnowpoint Ventures
2025-03-06Series F· $240M
2023-12-29Debt Financing· $200M
2023-10-31Series F· $300M
Leadership Team
Gary Steele
Chief Executive Officer
Brandon Tseng
Co-Founder
Recent News
Washington Technology
2026-01-11
Company data provided by crunchbase