Senior Engineer, Aerospace Software Quality Assurance (R3255)
Shield AI
Quality Assurance
Washington, DC, USA
Posted on Mar 11, 2025
About Shield AI
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company focused on protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its flagship autonomy software, Hivemind, powers aircraft, drones, and other platforms, enabling complex missions with high reliability in contested environments. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and internationally, Shield AI’s products actively support U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn,Twitter, and Instagram.
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 Aerospace Software Quality Assurance 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 ensuring our software meets high quality benchmarks, while 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 reviews, debugging, and system verification. Your efforts will be rewarded with successful flight test events, leadership growth opportunities at a fast-paced scaling tech company 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!
What You'll Do:
- Ensure Shield AI Hivemind on X software meets high quality benchmarks, requirements, and industry standards before release.
- Improve software development processes to minimize defects and accelerate the development cycle.
- Create, maintain and present test documentation, including test plans, test results and post flight-test analysis reports.
- Work with cross-functional teams to test and integrate software and hardware systems preparing for flight simulation and real flight test milestones.
- Run and review tests at a regular cadence to validate software stability, triage issues, report bugs, mitigate and identify flight readiness risks.
- Support on-site a test ranges during flight test campaigns that includes system configuration, running Hivemind on X software, and flight data post-analysis.
- Create test team reporting methods (such as dashboards) to provide high-level results visibility, metrics, performance and quality trends.
- Write Python scripts to test Hivemind on X software and hardware systems (with software emphasis).
Required Qualifications:
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Software Quality Assurance experience.
- 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.
- Software management tools (Git, AzureDevOps/Jira, Artifactory).
- 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.
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Total package details for U.S. based positions:
- Regular employee positions: Salary within range listed above + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
- Temporary employee positions: Hourly within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days
of employment)
- Interns/Military Fellows/Part-time not eligible for bonus, benefits or equity
Total package details for International positions which are roles based outside of the United States (where applicable):
- International premium, hardship differential, cost of living differential, living quarters allowance, foreign service transfer
allowance, equity, international benefits, visa assistance, and relocation assistance.
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.
Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
