Engineer I, Flight Test (R6219)

Speedrun Talent Network; San Diego, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI in San Diego is seeking a System Test Engineer I to help integrate, verify, and validate Hivemind Mission Autonomy on unmanned aircraft systems. You will work with cross‑functional teams to plan, document, and execute system‑level tests in simulation, laboratory, and flight environments.

An early‑career engineer will develop test procedures, collect telemetry, analyze results, and support test‑readiness reviews, with opportunities to travel to internal sites and customer locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (e.g., Aerospace, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, Robotics) or equivalent practical experience.
• Foundational experience with engineering test, integration, troubleshooting, or verification activities through coursework, internships, research, military service, or professional work.
• Familiarity with systems-engineering concepts including requirements, verification, validation, test procedures, configuration management, and documentation.
• Interest in autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned aircraft, flight-test operations, simulation, or software-hardware integration.
• Familiarity with Linux, Windows, command-line tools, networking basics, and scripting/programming (Python, Bash, C++).

Responsibilities

• Support test planning and execution for integration of Hivemind Mission Autonomy onto unmanned platforms and configurations.
• Assist senior test engineers with defining objectives, expected behavior, acceptance criteria, verification methods, and schedules.
• Develop and maintain system-level test procedures, test cases, checklists, and configurations.
• Support setup and troubleshooting of SIL, HIL, simulation, and lab environments; assist with test hardware and networks.
• Collect and organize test data, telemetry, logs, and configuration information for evaluation.
• Analyze test results, document defects, and support root-cause investigations with cross-functional teams.
• Contribute to performance metrics, test reports, dashboards, and other artifacts for internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain test infrastructure, automation, simulation tools, and repeatable configurations.
• Participate in test-readiness reviews, technical planning, and post-test debriefs.
• Travel periodically to internal sites, customer locations, and platform-integration events as needed.

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BATaircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

As an System Test Engineer I, you will support the integration, verification, and validation of Hivemind Mission Autonomy across a variety of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and mission applications. You will work with experienced test, systems, software, autonomy, hardware, and program teams to help prepare, execute, document, and improve system-level test activities.

This is a hands‑on engineering role for an early‑career candidate interested in autonomy, robotics, unmanned systems, simulation, software‑and‑hardware integration, and flight‑test operations. You will help evaluate whether autonomy capabilities perform as intended in simulation, laboratory, hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and, when applicable, flight‑test environments.

Under the guidance of senior engineers, you will contribute to test planning, test execution, data collection, issue investigation, and technical documentation. You will also have opportunities to support integration events with internal teams, external platform partners, and customers.

What you'll do:

• Support test planning and execution for integration of Hivemind Mission Autonomy capabilities onto unmanned platforms and mission-system configurations.
• Assist senior test engineers with defining test objectives, expected system behavior, acceptance criteria, verification methods, and test schedules.
• Help develop, execute, and maintain system-level test procedures, test cases, checklists, and test configurations.
• Support setup, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting of software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), simulation, laboratory, and automated test environments.
• Assist with installation, configuration, and verification of test hardware, software, networks, ground-control equipment, sensors, radios, computing systems, and supporting tools as applicable.
• Collect and organize test data, telemetry, logs, video, configuration information, and other evidence needed to evaluate system behavior.
• Help analyze test results, identify deviations from expected performance, document defects, and support root‑cause investigations with systems, software, autonomy, and platform‑integration teams.
• Contribute to performance metrics, test reports, test‑readiness materials, dashboards, and other reporting artifacts for internal engineering teams and external stakeholders.
• Assist with maintaining test infrastructure, test automation, simulation tools, and repeatable test configurations.
• Support development and maintenance of test procedures, standard operating procedures, configuration‑control records, lessons learned, and engineering documentation.
• Participate in test‑readiness reviews, technical planning meetings, issue‑triage sessions, and post‑test debriefs.
• Follow established safety, security, configuration‑management, and operational procedures during laboratory, simulation, integration, and flight‑test activities.
• Travel periodically to internal test sites, customer locations, and platform‑integration events as needed.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline, such as Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, or a related field. Equivalent practical experience may be considered.
• Foundational experience with engineering test, integration, troubleshooting, or verification activities through coursework, internships, research, military service, laboratory work, personal projects, or professional experience.
• Familiarity with basic systems‑engineering and test concepts, including requirements, verification, validation, test procedures, configuration management, defect tracking, and technical documentation.
• Interest in autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned aircraft systems, flight‑test operations, simulation, embedded systems, or software‑and‑hardware integration.
• Familiarity with Linux, Windows, command‑line tools, networking basics, and/or scripting or programming languages such as Python, Bash, C++, or similar tools.
• Ability to work methodically, follow detailed procedures, maintain accurate records, and manage several tasks in a fast‑paced engineering environment.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, including the ability to investigate unexpected system behavior using logs, telemetry, test results, and input from subject‑matter experts.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical findings to cross‑functional engineering teams.
• Demonstrated reliability, accountability, teamwork, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining a respectful and high‑performing engineering culture.
• Ability to travel periodically in support of integration, testing, and customer activities.

Preferred qualifications:

• Internship, academic research, military, laboratory, personal‑project, or professional experience involving UAS, autonomous vehicles, robotics, aviation, embedded systems, or complex integrated systems.
• Exposure to software‑in‑the‑loop, hardware‑in‑the‑loop, simulation, modeling‑and‑simulation, or automated test environments.
• Familiarity with test automation, scripting, data collection, telemetry analysis, log analysis, or defect‑tracking tools.
• Exposure to software‑development and configuration‑management practices, including Git, issue tracking, build systems, continuous integration, or test automation.
• Familiarity with basic networking concepts, including Ethernet, IP networking, UDP/TCP communication, and network troubleshooting.
• Exposure to flight‑test, aviation, safety, or operational‑risk‑management processes.
• Working knowledge of Department of Defense development, test, evaluation, or acquisition processes, including Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) or Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).
• Experience working in a laboratory, integration facility, field‑test environment, maker space, research environment, or similar hands‑on technical setting.

Full‑time regular employee offer package:

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. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed toequal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.