Senior Staff Engineer, Test Director (R5445)

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 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 a 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 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). You will own the technical direction, execution, and readiness of test campaigns, applying a fly–fix–fly methodology to rapidly mature autonomy capabilities from simulation and lab environments through flight.

In this role, you are the single technical authority for test execution—responsible for determining test readiness, directing test conduct, managing risk, and ensuring data-driven decisions throughout development and flight test operations. You will lead cross-functional teams across engineering, safety, and program management, aligning stakeholders around clear objectives, disciplined execution, and continuous learning.

What you'll do:

• Act as Test Director for system-level integration and flight test campaigns of Hivemind Mission Autonomy on small 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 small 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

$170,000 - $250,000 a year

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.