Flight Test Engineer II - San Diego or Washington DC (R2999)

Are you a passionate and innovative engineer looking to help develop state-of-the-art AI aircraft?  Are you eager to make a positive difference in the world? Do you want to work alongside mission driven and values focused teammates? Shield AI is just the place for you!   

The Hivemind on X Test department (HMX Test) is a group on a mission to build comprehensive and robust testing infrastructure that supports the development and deployment of the world’s best AI pilot and most reliable aircraft. Hivemind Test is dedicated to ensuring the highest level of quality, reliability, and performance in our Hivemind software ecosystem. This ecosystem includes software for AI behaviors, embedded systems, system integration, and more. Our group is charged with validating and verifying our Hivemind software meets reliability standards and is operationally ready to meet mission objectives on aircraft, such as real world jets, Shield AI’s V-BAT and beyond.  

As a Hivemind on X Systems Test Engineer, you will be at the epicenter of integration and testing for deploying our Hivemind Software and AI Pilot on 3rd Party  Platforms. You will be planning and executing the integration and testing of SW and HW systems throughout the Software Development Life Cycle, preparing them for simulation demonstrations and on-ground and in-flight test campaigns. Our test campaigns are hands-on and fast paced, with lots of planning, documentation, communication, coordination, manual testing, scripted testing, test reviewing, debugging, and system verification. Your efforts will be rewarded with successful flight test events and your contributions will play a key role in developing an AI autopilot, enabling intelligent aircraft, historic aviation firsts and fulfilling our mission to protect service members and civilians the world over! 

• Work with Hivemind and Hivemind on X engineering to test and integrate software and hardware systems preparing for simulation milestones and flight tests. 
• Support on-site flight test campaigns that involves system configuration, running Hivemind software, and data post-analysis.  
• Continuously run and review tests at a regular cadence to evaluate the stability of software, triage issues, report bugs to appropriate RE’s, and recommend test and flight readiness based on results. 
• Work closely with cross functional engineering teams to create test plans, review test cases, incorporate feedback, and execute tests with team approval. 
• Contribute to the creation, maintenance and communication of test documentation, including test plans, test results and post flight-test reports. 
• Create test team data Dashboards to provide high-level results visibility and data analysis. 
• Script tests in Python to test complex Hivemind on X software and hardware systems (with software emphasis). 
• Create SW based tools to improve flight test monitoring and debugging (Python and/or C ). 
• Become a subject-matter-expert for running Hivemind tests on our Software-In-The-Loop and Hardware-In-The-Loop systems. 
• Run simulated flight tests to validate Hivemind / Hivemind in X subsystems and review test run data. 
• Develop and execute test plans to validate Hivemind SW and HW systems.  
• Identify, analyze, and document software defects, issues, and inconsistencies in software behavior. 
• Drive continuous improvement in testing methodologies, tools, and processes. 

• Typically requires a minimum of 1-2 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; or 0 years and a Master’s degree; or 0 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience. 
• Proficiency in Python and Bash scripting. 
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional software, hardware and mechanical engineering teams. 
• Strong technical writing skills.  
• Experience in robotics, aerospace, and/or related hands-on engineering projects. 
• Experience in test engineering, or similar test generation, test planning, test execution and/or related systems engineering experience. 
• Strong planning, analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills.  
• Passionate about intelligent aircraft systems.  
• Adaptability and a willingness to learn new technologies and methodologies quickly in a fast-paced environment.   

• Experience in the aerospace or defense industries, working with complex systems and adhering to stringent standards and regulations. 
• Experience running software test or flight test campaigns.  
• Experience writing, maintaining and delivering complex technical documentation. 
• Experience championing, testing and executing, a capability or project throughout the Software Development Life Cycle to delivery. 
• Software management tools (Git, AzureDevOps/Jira, Artifactory). 

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Salary : $83,541 - $125,312