Staff Software Test Engineer, Next-Gen Aircraft (R3696)

Shield AI; Texas; On-site; USD 95,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI, a defense technology company, is seeking a Software Test Engineer to lead monthly VBAT software releases and lay the groundwork for future Group 5 aircraft software.

You will define test cases, automate system-level tests, and collaborate with flight test engineers to ensure readiness, quality gates, and traceability from code to system requirements.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software/test engineering experience; or 5+ years with MS/PhD.
• Experience leading software releases or test campaigns for aircraft or autonomous vehicles.
• Ability to build software for automated testing.
• Strong communication and organization skills; detail oriented.

Responsibilities

• Define test cases and release test plans for flight-qualified software.
• Automate system-level testing across hardware and simulation in the loop.
• Coordinate weekly test and lab operations for tool readiness.
• Contribute to testable feature designs and traceability to requirements.
• Collaborate with Flight Test Engineers to define flight campaigns.
• Develop tools to improve requirements-traceability and configuration control.

Skills

Test engineering

Software releases

Python

C++

Communication

Organization

Education

BS in CE/CS/EE

MS or PhD in relevant field

Tools

Python tooling

Simulation & Lab tools

DO-178C experience

Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram.

Shield AI has been redefining autonomous aviation with cutting-edge AI and GPS/RF-denied navigation technologies for the past few years.Now, we’re building a next-generation aircraft like no other—one that will push the boundaries of innovation and performance, equipped with Hivemind autonomy.

We’re looking for a Software Test Engineer to join the Software Integration & Operations team, with the primary responsibility to lead monthly releases for our VBAT product and subsequently set the foundation for releasing software our next-gen Group 5 aircraft. For software components ranging from autonomy, embedded systems, ground control applications, and more – you will lead their integration, release qualification, and continuous deployment to flight operations.

This is an opportunity to help revolutionize the defense aviation industry – setting the standard and building the capabilities required for rapid & qualified aircraft software releases - to active mission operations. Your role will center around integration and qualification of complex autonomous aircraft systems. You’ll need to be a technical expert in system integration and software test automation, meticulously organized, and passionate about delivering value to deployed service-members operating Shield AI aircraft.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Define test cases and release test plans that assure new software features are validated across integration levels and qualified for flight
• Automate system-level testing to continuous validate new software with hardware and simulation in the loop
• Facilitate weekly test & lab operations to assure developers and operators alike are equipped with the tools and instructions to evaluate software features
• Contribute to feature-designs to assure designs are testable and tested
• Work with Flight Test Engineers and operators to define flight test campaigns assure software readiness
• Build and sustain tools to optimize requirements-traceability between code, automated tests, and system requirements
• Set and improve software department wide standards for software testing, from quality gates, defect management, to configuration control.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Typically, 7+years of related experience with a BS degree (CE, CS, EE, or equivalent); or 5+ years with a MS or PhD degree
• Expert in test engineering for complex software systems. With proven success in testing with or without perfect requirements.
• Direct experience leading software releases or complex test campaigns, ideally for aircraft or autonomous vehicles
• Demonstrated capability in building software for automated testing
• Very strong communication and organization skills, with strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently in fast-paced environments, on complex challenges warranting cross-discipline collaboration

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years owning software release or test campaigns for aircraft or autonomous vehicles
• Experience driving tests across SIL, HIL, and VIL environments
• Excellent proficiency in Python or C++, primarily to build tools for automated testing
• Experience with requirements-traceability and building moderns tools to optimize the processes required for airworthiness, DO-178C, or similar.

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.