Flight Test Engineer, Staff (R6305)

Shield AI · Wichita Metro Area

  • Senior
  • Full-time
  • $120,000 – $190,000
  • Posted 2026-10-18
  • Confirmed live on 28 October 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. 

Job Description:
Shield AI is seeking an highly motivated and experienced Flight Test Engineer to develop, plan, execute, and analyze ground and flight test operations for a fast-paced next gen aircraft system. You will work closely across several segment owners of engineering, operations, autonomy, systems integration, product support, manufacturing, and customers.  

What you'll do:
• Develop, publish, and execute comprehensive flight test plans, procedures, cards, risk assessments, safety, and readiness reviews

• Support integration and test of aircraft systems, payloads, comms/data links, software, ground control systems, and mission equipment

• Lead and coordinate pre-flight, flight, and post-flight activities, including system configuration, instrumentation, telemetry, data collection and test reports

• Analyze ground and flight test data to identify performance trends, anomalies, root causes, and corrective actions

• Coordinate with engineering teams to validate requirements, troubleshoot issues, and mature system capabilities

• Lead or participate in test range operations, safety briefings, go/no-go decisions, and test setup and logistics

• Document test results, lessons learned, anomalies, and recommendations in clear technical reports

• Support aircraft maintenance, configuration control, and system readiness

• Create and improve flight test processes, tools, data workflows, and operational efficiency

• Create and maintain ground and air operating limitations requirements

• Travel to test sites, customer locations, and field exercises as required

Required qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM Degree)

• 8+ years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned/manned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering

• Strong understanding of aircraft systems, flight dynamics, avionics, telemetry, sensors, or control systems

• Proven ability to write and execute structured test plans, procedures, and reports

• Strong troubleshooting skills in field and/or lab environments

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across engineering and operations teams

• Willingness to travel and work outdoors, fields, or test range environments

• Overtime and weekend coverage as required

• U.S. Citizenship Only with In-Scope active Secret clearance required to start

Preferred qualifications:
• 2+ years of experience with developmental and/or operational ground and flight test, unmanned aircraft systems, aircraft integration, or aerospace systems engineering

• Experience in Group 4-5 UAS and/or fighter type capability or similar weapons systems

• Familiarity with FAA, DoW, and test range flight operations

• Experience with autonomy, navigation, mission planning, and Command-and-Control (C2) systems

• Hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance, avionics integration, payload integration, and ground support equipment

• Experience with telemetry systems, flight and data logs, sensor data, datalinks, and RF systems

• Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate or crewed aviation experience

• Proven Mission Control Room experience using Integrated Analysis & Data System (IADS) or similar development FTI display system

• Experience leading or supporting developmental flight test campaigns from design through planning and execution to include reporting

Ideal candidate:
The ideal candidate is practical, detail-oriented engineer who is comfortable in control rooms, hangar/maintenance areas, solving complex problems, taking ownership, rapid decision-making, and hands-on engineering concept environments. You can write a detailed test plan, troubleshoot hardware and software at a test site, analyze flight data, and communicate clearly under operational pressure. You are safety-minded, have high technical acumen, and motivated by building and validating advanced and complex aircraft systems to field to the operators quickly.

#LI-JM1
#LD

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 c

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