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Senior Engineer, Flight Test (R5371)

Shield AI· Hivemind Enterprise Division – Quality
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San Diego, CA$110k - $170kFull Time EmployeePosted 3mo ago

About the role

Senior Flight Test Engineer role within Shield AI's Hivemind Quality team focused on validating autonomy platform through simulation, SIL/HIL, and real-world flight testing, ensuring mission-ready capabilities and data-driven decisions.

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.

Qualifications

  • Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 4 years and a Master's degree; or equivalent work experience.
  • Experience in system integration and test, including SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight test environments
  • Highly organized and methodical, with the ability to manage complex, fast-paced test campaigns
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for safety-of-flight processes, hazard analysis, and configuration control in flight test environments
  • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze flight logs, telemetry, and system behavior to identify root causes.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across software, hardware, product, and test organizations.
  • FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (or the ability to obtain one within a reasonable timeframe).

Skills

Required:System integration and testFlight test planning and executionRisk assessment and hazard analysisData analysis of flight logs and telemetryCommunication with leadership and external stakeholders

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Temporary employee offer package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
  • Salary compensation influenced by factors including skill set, experience, licenses and certifications, and location
  • Equal opportunity employer protections and accommodations as needed
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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