Flight Test Engineer; R5898

Position: Flight Test Engineer (R5898)
Dallas, Texas / Washington, D.C.Aircraft Operations Division – Flight Test X-BAT /Full Time Employee /On-site 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 . Follow Shield AI on Linked In, X, Instagram, and You Tube.

Job Description:

Shield AI is seeking an experienced Flight Test Engineer to plan, execute, analyze, and improve 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, and manufacturing.  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) 5-10 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 and ability to travel up to 80% for candidates not based in the Wichita Metro Area, including travel to test sites, ranges, and other field locations

Overtime and weekend coverage as required Active Secret Security Clearance

Preferred qualifications:

10+ 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…