Flight Test Director — Autonomy & UAS Systems

Shield AI; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking aStaff Flight Test Engineer / Test Director to lead end-to-end test campaigns for Hivemind Mission Autonomy on small UAS. You will own test readiness, plan fly–fix–fly iterations, and direct cross-functional teams across engineering, safety, and program management.

You will establish test strategies, drive risk assessments, and report progress to leadership and customers, ensuring data-driven decisions and rigorous configuration control throughout development and flight.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in system integration and test, including SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight test environments.
• Experience leading test execution and risk decisions.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration with systems engineering, software, hardware, safety, and PM teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to brief leadership and customers.
• Highly organized with ability to manage complex, fast-paced test campaigns.
• Commitment to high standards; collaborative and respectful team environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as Test Director for system-level integration and flight test campaigns on small UAS.
• Own test readiness decisions for lab, simulation, ground, and flight phases.
• Plan and execute fly–fix–fly campaigns with disciplined configuration control and safety.
• Define and enforce test strategy including verification, test phasing, and objectives prioritization.
• Direct cross-functional test execution across engineering disciplines.
• Determine test infrastructure requirements (SIL, HIL, simulation environments, flight test assets).
• Approve and oversee test procedures, cards, and execution plans.
• Define performance metrics and ensure data is actionable and traceable.
• Lead flight test risk assessments and hazard analyses; enforce safety-of-flight discipline.
• Serve as primary test interface to leadership, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Establish test standards, SOPs, and best practices.
• Document test results, anomalies, corrective actions, and lessons learned.

Skills

Test leadership

System integration

Flight test

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

SIL

HIL

Simulation

Job description

Shield AI is seeking aStaff Flight Test Engineer / Test Director to lead end-to-end test campaigns for Hivemind Mission Autonomy on small UAS. You will own test readiness, plan fly–fix–fly iterations, and direct cross-functional teams across engineering, safety, and program management.

You will establish test strategies, drive risk assessments, and report progress to leadership and customers, ensuring data-driven decisions and rigorous configuration control throughout development and flight.