Senior V-BAT Air Vehicle Operator, Deployed Operations Site Lead

Shield AI; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 98,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Equity

Job summary

A venture-backed deep-tech company is seeking a Senior Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) to lead V-BAT flight operations. The role demands strong aviation judgment, leadership skills, and the ability to work under pressure in dynamic environments. The ideal candidate must have a Private Pilot License, FAA certifications, and experience in military operations. The position offers a competitive salary range of $98,000 - $155,000 with additional benefits, emphasizing safety, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain an FAA Class II Medical Certificate.
• Ability to obtain and hold a Secret DoD security clearance.
• Ability to pass background, drug screening, and customer-required medical/dental screenings.

Responsibilities

• Execute and lead V-BAT flight operations in support of DoD and foreign customers.
• Perform mission planning activities and risk assessments.
• Deliver pre-mission briefings and conduct structured post-flight debriefs.

Skills

Strong aviation decision-making

Risk management skills

Leadership in small teams

Education

Private Pilot License (PPL)

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Instrument Rating and/or Commercial Pilot Rating

FAA Class II Medical Certificate

Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the 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

The Senior Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) – Deployment Operations is responsible for executing and leading V-BAT flight operations in support of DoD and foreign customers in both land-based and maritime OCONUS environments. This is an operationally focused role requiring strong aviation judgment, disciplined execution, and the ability to lead small teams in austere and high-visibility conditions. The Senior AVO is responsible for leading mission planning activities, performing comprehensive risk assessments, delivering pre-mission briefings, executing flight operations, and conducting structured post-flight debriefs. This role includes conducting Functional Check Flights (FCFs) and system validation as required, ensuring aircraft configuration control and logbook accuracy, coordinating with maintenance to sustain fleet readiness, and supporting overall operational discipline. The Senior AVO will mentor junior operators, serve as the on-site operational representative to customers, and travel extensively in support of deployments. This is not an entry-level flight operations role. The ideal candidate brings strong aviation fundamentals, disciplined cockpit habits, and mature operational decision-making. They must be comfortable leading deployments, briefing customers, managing risk in dynamic environments, and maintaining professionalism in high-visibility settings. The Senior AVO must balance mission execution with customer satisfaction while upholding the highest standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Private Pilot License (PPL)
• Instrument Rating and/or Commercial Pilot Rating
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
• Ability to obtain and maintain an FAA Class II Medical Certificate
• Ability to obtain and hold a Secret DoD security clearance
• Ability to pass background, drug screening, and customer-required medical/dental screeningsWillingness to travel up to 50–75% in support of deployments
• Ability to lead and operate independently in small teams under austere conditions
• Strong aviation decision-making and risk management skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience serving as a Site Lead responsible for leading and overseeing aviation operations
• Experience operating as crew on manned aircraft
• At least 1,500 documented flight hours
• Prior military service, particularly with overseas deployments
• Maritime / shipboard UAS experience
• Instructor experience (manned or unmanned)

$98,000 - $155,000 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal 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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.