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Staff Flight Test Engineer (R4380)

Shield AI· X-BAT Division – X-BAT Engineering
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Wichita Metro Area$144k - $262kFull Time EmployeePosted 7mo ago

About the role

Lead ground and flight test planning and execution for X-BAT autonomous VTOL jet aircraft; provide technical leadership across the program to ensure safe and rapid development of a next-generation autonomous aircraft.

Responsibilities

  • Lead ground and flight test campaigns for X-BAT, including test planning, execution, post-test analysis, and progressive flight envelope expansion.
  • Assess aircraft and system readiness and define test objectives, test points, build-up approaches, success criteria, and instrumentation requirements.
  • Develop and review test plans, procedures, flight test cards, hazard analyses, risk assessments, and safety documentation for developmental ground and flight test operations.
  • Lead and coordinate pre-flight, flight, and post-flight activities, including aircraft configuration, test briefings, mission control room operations, telemetry monitoring, and go/no-go recommendations.
  • Provide technical leadership during hover, transition, and forward-flight testing, including integrated evaluations of aircraft systems, flight controls, and autonomy.
  • Serve as a flight test subject-matter expert during Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), Test Hazard Analyses (THAs), and Operational Risk Management (ORM) assessments.
  • Partner with engineering, Autonomy, Avionics, and flight operations teams to integrate and evaluate aircraft systems, software, communications and data links, ground control systems, and emergency behaviors.
  • Collaborate with Instrumentation Engineering to define data acquisition and telemetry requirements and ensure data quality, time synchronization, and fidelity across aircraft and ground systems.
  • Analyze ground and flight test data to assess aircraft performance, validate requirements, investigate anomalies, and inform corrective actions and subsequent test planning.
  • Develop and maintain ground and flight operating limitations, support aircraft configuration control and system readiness, and coordinate with maintenance teams to resolve test-related issues.
  • Document test results, anomalies, lessons learned, and recommendations in clear technical reports, and improve flight test processes, tools, and data workflows.
  • Support test range coordination, field deployments, remote test sites, and intensive test cycles as required to meet program objectives.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree)
  • 5-10 years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned/manned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering
  • Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight dynamics, avionics, telemetry, sensors, or control systems
  • Proven ability to write and execute structured test plans, procedures, and reports
  • Strong troubleshooting skills in field and/or lab environments
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work across engineering and operations teams
  • Willingness and ability to travel up to 80% for candidates not based in the Wichita Metro Area, including travel to test sites, ranges, and other field locations
  • Overtime and weekend coverage as required
  • Active Secret Security Clearance

Skills

Required:Flight test planningAircraft systems knowledgeTest documentation

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Temporary employee offer package includes temporary benefits after 60 days of employment
  • Salary compensation influenced by skill set, experience, licenses, certifications, and location
  • Equal employment opportunity and accommodation policies
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Shield AI

Autonomy for the world.

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

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