Shield AI

Staff UAS Flight Test Operator - 5793

Shield AI • $73K — $112K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience with Group 1/2 UAS platforms in various operational environments.
  • Proven leadership in complex UAS flight operations and mission planning.
  • Strong knowledge of COTS UAS hardware and related systems.
  • Experience in operational readiness and configuration control across multiple systems.
  • Familiarity with National Airspace System operations and flight authorization requirements.
  • Holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

Responsibilities

  • Lead system-level flight test campaigns for multi-rotor and fixed-wing UAS.
  • Plan and conduct missions per approved test plans and safety procedures.
  • Operate and maintain UAS, payloads, and ground control systems.
  • Test pre-release HivemindSDK versions for functionality and performance.
  • Document test results and provide actionable feedback to teams.
  • Conduct operational risk assessments and lead crew briefings.
  • Monitor telemetry and support anomaly investigations.

Benefits

  • Bonus opportunities based on performance.
  • Equity options available.
  • Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees.
  • Temporary benefits package after 60 days for temporary employees.
Full Job Description
The Staff UAS Flight Test Operator leads system-level flight test operations supporting Hivemind Mission Autonomy across small UAS and external platforms. As a member of the Hivemind Product Quality team, this role supports the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) for HivemindSDK by testing pre-release software and verifying its features, capabilities, and operational performance in representative laboratory and flight environments. The operator is responsible for the operational readiness, configuration, and safe operation of multi-rotor and fixed-wing UAS, payloads, ground control systems, and supporting test equipment; plans and conducts single- and multi-aircraft missions; supports fly-fix-fly campaigns; validates autonomy capabilities; identifies defects and usability issues; and provides actionable feedback to improve the quality and customer readiness of each release. What You'll Do: • Lead system-level flight test campaigns for Hivemind Mission Autonomy across multi-rotor, fixed-wing, and external UAS platforms, including day-to-day fly-fix-fly operations. • Plan and conduct missions in accordance with approved test plans, test cards, configuration requirements, release criteria, and safety procedures. • Operate, configure, inspect, and maintain UAS, payloads, ground control systems, communications equipment, and supporting test infrastructure across laboratory, ground, and flight-test environments. • Test pre-release HivemindSDK versions by verifying features, integrations, autonomy capabilities, and performance against defined product and quality requirements. • Develop and execute representative customer workflows and mission scenarios to assess SDK functionality, usability, reliability, and operational performance across aircraft types and multi-agent configurations. • Document test results, defects, anomalies, regressions, and limitations; provide actionable feedback to product, software, systems, autonomy, and quality teams; and support issue reproduction, triage, and corrective-action verification. • Lead operational risk assessments, crew briefings, ground checks, launch and recovery preparations, and post-flight debriefs while serving in designated leadership roles during test conduct. • Monitor telemetry and system status, collect flight data, evaluate aircraft and autonomy behavior, and support initial anomaly investigation. • Establish and maintain SOPs, test procedures, checklists, and operational standards; mentor flight test personnel; communicate test status and risks; and drive improvements in safety, efficiency, product quality, and customer readiness. Required Qualifications: • 8+ years of experience operating, configuring, and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms in test, military, commercial, or operational environments. • Demonstrated experience leading complex UAS flight operations, including mission planning, test-card execution, crew briefings and debriefings, and real-time coordination in dynamic test environments. • Strong knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilot systems, payloads, ground control stations, communications systems, and supporting test equipment. • Experience assessing operational readiness and maintaining configuration control across aircraft, payloads, software, communications equipment, personnel, and test infrastructure. • Experience developing, implementing, and executing SOPs, checklists, risk assessments, hazard mitigations, and operational processes. • Working knowledge of National Airspace System operations, airspace coordination, flight authorization requirements, and operational planning for complex UAS missions. • FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate holder Preferred Qualifications: • Experience supporting autonomy, AI-enabled systems, or developmental flight test programs, particularly multi-aircraft or distributed UAS operations. • Experience supporting test progression across simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, ground test, and flight test environments. • Hands-on fabrication and integration experience involving mechanical assemblies, electrical systems, wiring harnesses, avionics, payloads, and supporting test equipment. • Proficiency with ArduPilot, PX4, QGroundControl, and Mission Planner, with working knowledge of Linux, IP networking, MAVLink, ROS/ROS 2, or basic scripting. • Military UAS operations or experience supporting DoD developmental testing, operational testing, customer demonstrations, or other formally controlled test programs. $35.60 - $54.30 an hour #LI-DS5 #LE 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.

About Shield AI

Shield AI is a defense technology company that develops artificially intelligent systems for military applications. The company was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, and Andrew Reiter, and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Shield AI's products include autonomous drones and software that can be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other military operations. The company's mission is to reduce the number of military casualties by providing soldiers with better intelligence and situational awareness. Shield AI has received funding from a number of investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund.
Learn more about Shield AI
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2015

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