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.
What you'll do:
Act as Test Director and technical lead for integration and flight test of Hivemind autonomy on group 5 ACP systems, including multi-aircraft coordination scenarios in LVC and empirical flight test scenarios.Own test strategy and execution across the full development lifecycle, including system-level verification & validation, test phasing, and prioritization across SIL, HIL, simulation, ground, and flight test environmentsPlan and execute large-scale flight test campaigns, including complex mission scenarios involving cooperative autonomy, human-machine teaming, and distributed systemsServe as the final authority during mission autonomy test operations, directing test conduct and approving test plans, procedures, and execution flowCoordinate cross-functional execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, flight operations, safety, and program leadership teamsDefine mission-level performance metrics and success criteria, ensuring traceability from requirements to test outcomes and operational effectivenessOwn test infrastructure strategy, including large-scale simulation environments, SIL/HIL systems, aircraft integration labs, and flight test assetsLead on-aircraft integration and flight test operations with platform OEM partners, including system configuration, software deployment, real-time troubleshooting, and post-flight data analysisServe as primary coordinator working with platform OEMs to define and enforce test readiness criteria (entry/exit), define safety-of-flight and mission risk management, airspace coordination and test hazard identification, analysis, and mitigation to ultimately make go/no-go decisions for progression into ground and flight test eventsEstablish and scale test processes, standards, and best practices aligned with DoD DT&E/OT&E expectations and operational test rigor Required qualifications:
Typically requires 15+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 14+ years with a Master’s; or 12+ years with a PhD; or equivalent experienceDemonstrated experience leading flight test or large-scale system integration efforts, including authority over test readiness, execution, and risk decisionsStrong background in full-scale aviation test environments, including aircraft integration, ground test, and flight operationsExperience with system-level verification & validation across multiple test environments (SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight)Proven ability to plan and execute complex, multi-phase flight test campaigns involving multiple stakeholders and dependenciesExperience working cross-functionally across software, hardware, avionics, systems engineering, safety, and program teamsStrong understanding of safety-of-flight principles, risk management, and disciplined test execution in aviation environmentsProficiency in Python or similar tools for test automation, data analysis, or system validationExcellent technical leadership and communication skills, including briefing to senior leadership and external customersAbility to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required Preferred qualifications:
Experience supporting Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), loyal wingman concepts, or multi-vehicle autonomous systemsPrior role as Flight Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer on full-scale aircraft programsFamiliarity with military aviation test processes, including DT&E and OT&E frameworksExperience operating in or supporting government flight test ranges and operational environmentsBackground in autonomy, AI/ML-enabled systems, or human-machine teaming in aviation contextsExperience with airworthiness processes, flight clearance, and configuration control for aircraft systemsFamiliarity with tools such as Git, Jira/Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelinesActive SECRET clearance