Senior Flight Test Engineer – Autonomy & Systems Integration

F7d8749a; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Flight Test Engineer to drive system-level integration and flight test campaigns for the Hivemind Mission Autonomy platform across small UAS and external platforms. You will develop and execute test strategies, validate autonomy capabilities, and ensure cross-functional collaboration with software, hardware, and product teams.

You will own test readiness, conduct phase-gate decisions, plan fly-fix-fly campaigns, and lead risk assessments while maintaining test

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 4 years and a Master's degree; or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead system-level integration and flight test campaigns for Hivemind Mission Autonomy across small UAS and external platforms.
• Develop and execute test strategies, plans, scenarios, and success criteria that validate autonomy capabilities, software integrations, system performance, and operational customer workflows.
• Own test readiness and phase-gate decisions across simulation, SIL, HIL, ground, and flight testing, including entry and exit criteria, configuration control, and objective prioritization.
• Plan, direct, and execute fly-fix-fly campaigns, coordinating cross-functional engineering teams and test operators to enable rapid, disciplined iteration.
• Approve test procedures, test cards, and execution plans; lead risk assessments, hazard analyses, and mitigation planning while serving as the final authority during test conduct.
• Define and maintain test infrastructure, including simulation environments, flight assets, hardware configurations, multi-agent systems, and automated test pipelines.
• Analyze flight logs, telemetry, rosbags, and system data to identify defects, determine root causes, document anomalies and corrective actions, and ensure results are traceable to requirements and mission outcomes.
• Serve as the primary test interface to leadership, customers, and external stakeholders while establishing SOPs, reporting test progress and risk, and advancing industry test practices.

Skills

System integration

Flight test planning

SIL/HIL testing

Autonomy development

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Safety-of-flight

FAA Part 107 certification

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Equivalent work experience

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Flight Test Engineer to drive system-level integration and flight test campaigns for the Hivemind Mission Autonomy platform across small UAS and external platforms. You will develop and execute test strategies, validate autonomy capabilities, and ensure cross-functional collaboration with software, hardware, and product teams.

You will own test readiness, conduct phase-gate decisions, plan fly-fix-fly campaigns, and lead risk assessments while maintaining test