Staff Engineer, Flight Test (R6305)

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.