---
title: 'Manager, Software Test & Automation (R5461) at Shield AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/manager-software-test-automation-r5461-shield-ai-san-diego-rt6b0cn4z1ea'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-17'
---

# Manager, Software Test & Automation (R5461) at Shield AI

- **Company:** Shield AI
- **Location:** San Diego, CA
- **Compensation:** $160k–$240k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/d4dd7743-41c3-4d5f-9a6e-e305aebd8541

## Job description

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 www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description: Shield AI's Software Test & Automation Team is responsible for developing the verification, validation, and automation capabilities that enable rapid delivery of Hivemind autonomy across the Expeditionary and Emerging Operations portfolio. The team provides objective evidence of software quality, reliability, and mission readiness by developing scalable automation frameworks, repeatable validation environments, and software readiness assessments spanning Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Vehicle-in-the-Loop (VIL), and operational test environments. As the Software Test & Automation Manager, you will lead a multidisciplinary engineering team responsible for defining verification strategies, building automated validation capabilities, and establishing software readiness standards across a diverse portfolio that includes XBAT, VBAT, Weapons, Space, Maritime, and other emerging autonomy programs. You will partner closely with software engineering, systems engineering, platform integration, digital infrastructure, and flight test organizations to ensure autonomy capabilities are thoroughly validated and ready for operational deployment. This role is ideal for a technical leader who enjoys building high-performing engineering teams, developing scalable automation strategies, and improving software quality through modern verification and continuous validation practices.

What you'll do:

- Lead and grow a team of Software Test & Automation Engineers supporting Expeditionary and Emerging Operations.
- Define verification and validation strategies spanning simulation, SIL, HIL, VIL, and operational test environments.
- Drive the development of automated regression testing, validation frameworks, and test infrastructure that improve software quality and engineering velocity.
- Establish software readiness criteria, quality gates, and objective performance metrics used to assess autonomy maturity throughout the development lifecycle.
- Partner with Digital Infrastructure to integrate automated validation into CI/CD pipelines and expand continuous testing capabilities.
- Develop common automation frameworks, reusable test assets, and validation methodologies across multiple autonomy programs.
- Coordinate software readiness activities with software engineering, systems engineering, platform integration, and flight test teams.
- Develop technical roadmaps, staffing plans, and engineering priorities aligned with organizational objectives.
- Mentor engineers, conduct performance reviews, recruit top talent, and foster technical excellence across the organization.
- Present software readiness assessments, technical risks, and validation status to program leadership, Chief Engineers, and executive stakeholders.

Required qualifications:

- Lead and grow a team of Software Test & Automation Engineers supporting Expeditionary and Emerging Operations.
- Define verification and validation strategies spanning simulation, SIL, HIL, VIL, and operational test environments.
- Drive the development of automated regression testing, validation frameworks, and test infrastructure that improve software quality and engineering velocity.
- Establish software readiness criteria, quality gates, and objective performance metrics used to assess autonomy maturity throughout the development lifecycle.
- Partner with Digital Infrastructure to integrate automated validation into CI/CD pipelines and expand continuous testing capabilities.
- Develop common automation frameworks, reusable test assets, and validation methodologies across multiple autonomy programs.
- Coordinate software readiness activities with software engineering, systems engineering, platform integration, and flight test teams.
- Develop technical roadmaps, staffing plans, and engineering priorities aligned with organizational objectives.
- Mentor engineers, conduct performance reviews, recruit top talent, and foster technical excellence across the organization.
- Present software readiness assessments, technical risks, and validation status to program leadership, Chief Engineers, and executive stakeholders.

Preferred qualifications:

- Experience supporting autonomous systems, robotics, or unmanned platforms.
- Experience with software quality tools such as SonarQube.
- Experience with ROS.
- Experience developing software readiness metrics, dashboards, and executive reporting.
- Experience supporting DoD programs and customer demonstrations.

## #LI-LD1

#LD

Full-time regular employee offer package: Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package: Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

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. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

###

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.

## About Shield AI

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Shield AI builds AI pilots and autonomous systems for military aircraft to protect service members and civilians.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series G, venture-backed)
- **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2015
- **Founders**: Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, Andrew Reiter

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Defense technology, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, aerospace
- Target customers: U.S. Department of Defense, allied nations’ military forces (B2G / Government)
- Mission or purpose statement: “Protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.”

## Products & Services
- **Hivemind**: A combat‑tested, modular autonomy stack for aircraft – self‑driving technology for drones, jets, and helicopters. Includes path‑planning, mapping, state‑estimation, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. Type: Software (AI/autonomy).
- **V‑BAT**: A vertical take‑off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for persistent ISR and strike missions. Type: Hardware (drone).
- **X‑BAT**: An advanced unmanned aircraft system with extended endurance and payload capacity, built for multi‑domain operations. Type: Hardware (drone).
- **Hivemind Vision Systems**: Computer‑vision and sensor‑fusion capabilities integrated into Hivemind for GPS‑denied environments. Type: Software + sensors.
- **Hivemind Enterprise**: A deployable version of Hivemind for third‑party platforms and commercial applications. Type: Software.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private company). Total funding raised: $3.6B (as of Series G in March 2026).
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue ~$21.7M (estimated, private) | Total Funding $3.6B (including $2B Series G led by JP Morgan Chase and Advent International, March 2026).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: JP Morgan Chase, Advent International, Blackstone, Riot Ventures, SnowPoint Ventures, Disruptive (55+ investors total). Strategic partners include U.S. DoD and allied defense forces.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 68.3% YoY to 1,283 employees; 338 active job postings (+57.2% YoY); operates in 5 countries (U.S., Australia, UAE, Norway, Ukraine); recent acquisitions of Sentient Vision Systems (2024), Heron Systems, MARTIN UAV.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Combat‑proven autonomy**: Hivemind has been tested in live military operations, providing a first‑mover advantage in contested, GPS‑denied environments.
- **Full‑stack integration**: Combines software (AI pilot), hardware (V‑BAT, X‑BAT), and sensor systems, creating a tightly integrated product ecosystem.
- **Cross‑functional engineering culture**: Engineers work across AI, robotics, aerospace, and defense – not siloed – enabling rapid iteration and field deployment.
- **Top talent pipeline**: Employees drawn from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Amazon, Anduril, and other leading defense/tech firms.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale AI pilots across all domains**: Extend Hivemind from aircraft to ships, satellites, and ground vehicles (“every military asset”).
- **International expansion**: Growing presence in Australia, Europe, and Middle East via mission autonomy centers and partnerships.
- **Deepen autonomy stack**: Continued investment in reinforcement learning, simulation, and computer vision to maintain leadership in contested‑environment autonomy.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission‑driven work**: Directly contribute to protecting service members and civilians with cutting‑edge AI and robotics.
- **Cross‑functional teams**: Engineers collaborate across disciplines (AI, hardware, software, systems) on real‑world defense challenges.
- **Benefits**: Excellent medical coverage, mental health EAP, paid parental leave, pet insurance, flexible work hours, gym discounts (SD) / on‑site gym (DC), free parking, competitive compensation, 401k with match, stock benefits.
- **Work policy**: Flexible work hours; some offices (e.g., San Diego HQ, Arlington, DC) have on‑site facilities. Remote/hybrid options available depending on role.
- **Growth trajectory**: Rapidly scaling (68% headcount growth) with hundreds of open roles across engineering, operations, and program management.

## Sources
1. [shield.ai/about](https://shield.ai/about/)
2. [shield.ai/careers](https://shield.ai/careers/)
3. [LinkedIn – Shield AI](https://www.linkedin.com/company/shield-ai)
4. [CBInsights – Shield AI](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/shield-ai)
5. [Lever – Shield AI Jobs](https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai)

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