Shield AI
Director, Test Engineering - ACP Programs (R5044)
TLDR
Take the lead in complex test campaigns, ensuring safe and effective flight operations of Hivemind AI capabilities on autonomous collaborative platforms.
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 environments
Plan and execute large-scale flight test campaigns, including complex mission scenarios involving cooperative autonomy, human-machine teaming, and distributed systems
Serve as the final authority during mission autonomy test operations, directing test conduct and approving test plans, procedures, and execution flow
Coordinate cross-functional execution across software, hardware, systems engineering, flight operations, safety, and program leadership teams
Define mission-level performance metrics and success criteria, ensuring traceability from requirements to test outcomes and operational effectiveness
Own test infrastructure strategy, including large-scale simulation environments, SIL/HIL systems, aircraft integration labs, and flight test assets
Lead on-aircraft integration and flight test operations with platform OEM partners, including system configuration, software deployment, real-time troubleshooting, and post-flight data analysis
Serve 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 events
Establish 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 experience
Demonstrated experience leading flight test or large-scale system integration efforts, including authority over test readiness, execution, and risk decisions
Strong background in full-scale aviation test environments, including aircraft integration, ground test, and flight operations
Experience 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 dependencies
Experience working cross-functionally across software, hardware, avionics, systems engineering, safety, and program teams
Strong understanding of safety-of-flight principles, risk management, and disciplined test execution in aviation environments
Proficiency in Python or similar tools for test automation, data analysis, or system validation
Excellent technical leadership and communication skills, including briefing to senior leadership and external customers
Ability 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 systems
Prior role as Flight Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer on full-scale aircraft programs
Familiarity with military aviation test processes, including DT&E and OT&E frameworks
Experience operating in or supporting government flight test ranges and operational environments
Background in autonomy, AI/ML-enabled systems, or human-machine teaming in aviation contexts
Experience with airworthiness processes, flight clearance, and configuration control for aircraft systems
Familiarity with tools such as Git, Jira/Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines
Active SECRET clearance
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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.
Shield AI builds advanced AI-powered autonomy systems for military and defense applications, enabling mission-critical operations in contested environments. Our platform, Hivemind, supports developers and operators with robust tools for quick adaptation and deployment, ensuring superior situational awareness and operational efficiency. With unique solutions like the AI-piloted X-BAT and ViDAR surveillance system, we are transforming how defense technology meets real-world challenges.
- Founded
- Founded 2015
- Employees
- 51-200 employees
- Industry
- Internet Software & Services
Test Engineer