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Staff UAS Flight Test Operator - 5793

Shield AI· Hivemind Enterprise Division – Quality
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San Diego, CA$35.6/hr - $54.3/hrFull Time EmployeePosted 3w ago

About the role

Lead system-level flight test operations supporting Hivemind Mission Autonomy across small UAS and external platforms, testing pre-release software, validating autonomy capabilities, and ensuring operational readiness and safety in laboratory and flight environments.

Responsibilities

  • Lead system-level flight test campaigns for Hivemind Mission Autonomy across multi-rotor, fixed-wing, and external UAS platforms, including day-to-day fly–fix–fly operations.
  • Plan and conduct missions in accordance with approved test plans, test cards, configuration requirements, release criteria, and safety procedures.
  • Operate, configure, inspect, and maintain UAS, payloads, ground control systems, communications equipment, and supporting test infrastructure across laboratory, ground, and flight-test environments.
  • Test pre-release HivemindSDK versions by verifying features, integrations, autonomy capabilities, and performance against defined product and quality requirements.
  • Develop and execute representative customer workflows and mission scenarios to assess SDK functionality, usability, reliability, and operational performance across aircraft types and multi-agent configurations.
  • Document test results, defects, anomalies, regressions, and limitations; provide actionable feedback to product, software, systems, autonomy, and quality teams; support issue reproduction, triage, and corrective-action verification.
  • Lead operational risk assessments, crew briefings, ground checks, launch and recovery preparations, and post-flight debriefs while serving in designated leadership roles during test conduct.
  • Monitor telemetry and system status, collect flight data, evaluate aircraft and autonomy behavior, and support initial anomaly investigation.
  • Establish and maintain SOPs, test procedures, checklists, and operational standards; mentor flight test personnel; communicate test status and risks; drive improvements in safety, efficiency, product quality, and customer readiness.

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience operating, configuring, and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms in test, military, commercial, or operational environments.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex UAS flight operations, including mission planning, test-card execution, crew briefings and debriefings, and real-time coordination in dynamic test environments.
  • Strong knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilot systems, payloads, ground control stations, communications systems, and supporting test equipment.
  • Experience assessing operational readiness and maintaining configuration control across aircraft, payloads, software, communications equipment, personnel, and test infrastructure.
  • Experience developing, implementing, and executing SOPs, checklists, risk assessments, hazard mitigations, and operational processes.
  • Working knowledge of National Airspace System operations, airspace coordination, flight authorization requirements, and operational planning for complex UAS missions.
  • FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate holder

Skills

Required:UAS operations & flight test leadershipAutonomy systems / HivemindSDK testingUAS hardware & ground control systemsSOPs, risk assessments, and operational processesFAA Part 107 Remote Pilot

Benefits

  • Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
  • Temporary employee offer package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
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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