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 nine 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.
Job Description:
Shield AI’s Aviation Safety Officer for Next Generation Aircraft will ensure a world-class aviation safety program is established, maintained, and prioritized above all other mission requirements. You will be responsible for leading incident investigations, developing safety frameworks, and producing formal documentation for both internal and government stakeholders—aligned with industry standards, military specifications, and civil aviation best practices.
In this highly visible and cross-functional role, you’ll collaborate closely with engineering, test, flight operations, and program leadership to embed safety into every stage of product development and flight operations. You’ll shape the policies, systems, and standards that ensure the safe design, testing, and fielding of cutting-edge autonomous and AI-enabled aircraft.
What you'll do:
Supervise the Aviation Safety Program for all Aircraft Division products and flight test programs.
Ensure safety is prioritized during product design, flight readiness reviews, mission planning, and operational execution.
Lead the system safety program per MIL-STD-882, SAE ARP4761, and relevant civil standards.
Own the System Safety Program Plan (SSPP), hazard tracking system, safety-critical function/item lists, and all related analyses and reports.
Oversee system safety requirements definition, verification, and validation from aircraft level down to configuration item level.
Manage hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation planning, and closure tracking for all safety-related issues.
Lead mishap and incident investigations, including root cause analysis, corrective actions, and reporting to stakeholders.
Assess the safety implications of test findings, defects, and workarounds, ensuring proper risk disposition.
Interface with government regulators and customers to ensure regulatory and contractual compliance.
Drive a culture of proactive safety, integrating lessons learned into design, training, and operations.
Required qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aviation Safety, or a related technical discipline.
10+ years of experience in aviation system safety, flight test safety, or airworthiness roles.
Hands-on experience implementing safety programs in accordance with MIL-STD-882, SAE ARP4761, and/or ARP4754A.
Experience planning and executing developmental flight test programs for manned or unmanned systems.
Demonstrated success leading incident/mishap investigations, authoring formal reports, and briefing findings to leadership and customers.
In-depth understanding of safety risk management, hazard analysis, and system-level safety assessments.
Proven ability to collaborate with engineering, test, and operations teams in high-tempo aerospace environments.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing for government and regulatory bodies.
Preferred qualifications:
Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Safety Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified System Safety Professional (CSSP), or Aircraft Accident Investigator certification.
Hands-on experience developing and testing safety-critical systems or software.
Experience with military type certification or airworthiness qualification processes.
Familiarity with FAA, DoW, or EASA safety and airworthiness frameworks.
Background in AI/autonomy safety, UAV flight testing, or hybrid flight control systems.
Mishap investigation leadership experience, ideally under AFMAN 91-223, NAVSAFECOM, or similar standards.
Military experience as a pilot, maintainer, or aviation safety officer.
Working knowledge of export control (ITAR/EAR) and data protection requirements in aerospace programs.
Experience supporting or leading Safety Review Boards (SRBs) or Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs).
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
