Staff UAS Flight Test Operator

About the role

Shield AI, a defense-tech company, is hiring a Staff UAS Flight Test Operator in San Diego. The role leads system-level flight test operations for Hivemind Mission Autonomy across small UAS and external platforms, supporting the Software Development Lifecycle of HivemindSDK by testing pre-release software in laboratory and flight environments. It sits within the Hivemind Product Quality team.

Key responsibilities

• Lead system-level flight test campaigns for multi-rotor, fixed-wing and external UAS, including day-to-day fly-fix-fly operations.
• Plan and run missions according to 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 test infrastructure.
• Test pre-release HivemindSDK versions and develop customer workflows and mission scenarios to assess functionality, usability and reliability.
• Document defects, anomalies and regressions, give feedback to product and quality teams, and support issue reproduction and corrective action.
• Lead operational risk assessments, crew briefings, ground checks, launch and recovery prep, and post-flight debriefs.
• Maintain SOPs, test procedures and checklists, mentor flight test personnel and drive safety and quality improvements.

Required profile

• 8+ years operating, configuring and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms in test, military, commercial or operational settings.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex UAS flight operations, including mission planning, test-card execution and crew briefings.
• Knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilots, payloads, ground control stations and communications systems.
• Experience with configuration control and with SOPs, checklists, risk assessments and hazard mitigations.
• Working knowledge of National Airspace System operations, airspace coordination and flight authorization.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

Preferred qualifications

• Autonomy, AI-enabled systems or developmental flight test experience, including multi-aircraft operations.
• Test progression across simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, ground test and flight test.
• Fabrication and integration experience with avionics, wiring harnesses and payloads.
• Proficiency with ArduPilot, PX4, QGroundControl and Mission Planner, and Linux, MAVLink, ROS/ROS 2 or basic scripting.
• Military UAS operations or DoD developmental testing experience.