System Test Engineer II, Flight Test

About the role

Shield AI, a defense-tech company developing autonomy software, aircraft and simulation technologies, is hiring a System Test Engineer II in San Diego. The role supports the integration, verification and validation of Hivemind Mission Autonomy across unmanned aircraft systems and mission applications, working with test, systems, software, autonomy, hardware and program teams. It is a hands-on engineering position for an early-career candidate interested in autonomy, robotics, unmanned systems, simulation and flight-test operations.

Key responsibilities

• Support test planning and execution for integrating Hivemind Mission Autonomy onto unmanned platforms and mission-system configurations.
• Assist senior test engineers in defining test objectives, acceptance criteria, verification methods and test schedules.
• Help develop, execute and maintain test procedures, test cases, checklists and configurations.
• Support setup, operation and troubleshooting of software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, simulation, laboratory and automated test environments.
• Install, configure and verify test hardware, software, networks, ground-control equipment, sensors, radios and computing systems.
• Collect and organize test data, telemetry, logs, video and configuration information, and help analyze results and document defects.
• Contribute to test reports, metrics, readiness materials and dashboards, and maintain test infrastructure, automation and documentation.
• Take part in test-readiness reviews, issue-triage sessions and post-test debriefs, and travel periodically to test sites, customer locations and integration events.

Required profile

• Master's degree in a STEM field (Aerospace, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, Robotics or related engineering); equivalent practical experience may be considered.
• Foundational experience in engineering test, integration, troubleshooting or verification through coursework, internships, research, military service, lab work or personal projects.
• Familiarity with systems-engineering and test concepts such as requirements, verification and validation, configuration management and defect tracking.
• Interest in autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned aircraft systems, flight-test operations, simulation or embedded systems.
• Ability to work methodically, follow detailed procedures, troubleshoot and communicate technical findings clearly.

Required skills

• Familiarity with Linux, Windows, command-line tools, networking basics and/or scripting or programming languages such as Python, Bash or C++.
• Preferred: exposure to SIL/HIL, simulation, test automation, Git, continuous integration, and flight-test or DoD DT&E/OT&E processes.