Staff Engineer, Flight Test (R6064)

Shield AI · Washington, D.C.

  • Senior
  • Full-time
  • $140,000 – $210,000
  • Posted 2026-09-24
  • Confirmed live on 25 September 2026

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Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and 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:
• 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

Required 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

Preferred qualifications:
• Military aviation experience as aircrew, flight test engineer, mission systems operator, or engineer supporting military aircraft development or test programs

• Prior role as Flight Test Director, Test Conductor, or Lead Flight Test Engineer on full-scale aircraft programs

• Understanding of military air operations, mission planning, and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) supporting autonomous aircraft employment

• Experience supporting Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), loyal wingman concepts, or multi-vehicle autonomous systems

• Familiarity with DoD acquisition and developmental test processes

• 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

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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