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Staff Engineer, Flight Test (R6064)

Shield AI· Hivemind Solutions Division – Integration & Test
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Washington, DC$140k - $210kFull Time EmployeePosted 4w ago

About the role

Staff Integration & Flight Test Engineer for Hivemind AI Pilot capabilities on Group 5 UAS/ACP programs, responsible for integration, verification, and flight test across simulation to flight environments with emphasis on safety, risk management, and program objectives.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute detailed integration and flight test plans that support the overall program verification and test strategy across simulation, SIL, HIL, ground, and flight test environments
  • Coordinate readiness of simulation environments, integration laboratories, aircraft, and flight test assets required to execute program objectives
  • Apply aviation knowledge, aircraft performance and operational mission understanding to develop safe, efficient, and operationally relevant integration and flight test plans
  • Define test objectives, performance metrics, and success criteria, ensuring traceability from requirements to test outcomes and operational capability
  • Lead and support aircraft integration and flight test activities, including system configuration, software integration, mission planning, real-time troubleshooting, flight execution support, and post-flight data analysis
  • Coordinate with platform OEMs, government ranges, and flight operations personnel to establish test readiness criteria and ensure technical and safety requirements are satisfied prior to test execution
  • Coordinate cross-functional execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, flight operations, safety, and program leadership teams
  • Evaluate test results, identify technical issues, and recommend corrective actions to improve system performance and accelerate capability maturation

Qualifications

  • Typically requires 8+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 6+ years with a Master’s
  • Demonstrated experience planning, conducting, and evaluating flight test of aircraft systems in military or defense aviation environments
  • Strong understanding of safety-of-flight principles, risk management, and disciplined test execution in aviation environments
  • Demonstrated understanding of aircraft performance, flight operations, and environmental effects influencing aircraft mission planning, test execution, and safety
  • Experience with system-level verification & validation across multiple test environments (SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight)
  • Experience working cross-functionally across software, hardware, avionics, systems engineering, safety, and program teams
  • Experience with scripting or software tools (Python preferred) for test automation, data analysis, or system validation
  • Ability to effectively communicate with pilots, operators, and engineers to develop executable flight test objectives, mission plans, and risk mitigations
  • Excellent technical leadership and communication skills, including briefing to program leadership and external customers
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required

Skills

Required:Flight test planningSystem integrationSIL/HIL testingPythonSafety and risk managementCommunication

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Temporary benefit package after 60 days for temporary employees
  • Equal opportunity and accommodations on request
  • Military fellows and part-time employees not eligible for benefits
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Shield AI

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

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