---
title: 'Senior Engineer, Production Test (R6513) at Shield AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineer-production-test-r6513-shield-ai-seattle-d1j0p1v31pj1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-07'
---

# Senior Engineer, Production Test (R6513) at Shield AI

- **Company:** Shield AI
- **Location:** Seattle, WA
- **Compensation:** $140k–$210k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/shieldai/37bb30be-f434-4d11-a071-70e74a8ccff3

## 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.

What You'll Do:

- Manage and maintain traceability of test requirements throughout system development, integration, and test execution phases.
- Plan, coordinate, and execute aircraft/lab test execution activities, including pre-test readiness reviews, test conduct, data collection, and post-test reporting.
- Coordinate test schedules and support comprehensive test planning activities to ensure alignment with program milestones and objectives.
- Develop and manage test event sequencing and execution plans throughout the aircraft build and integration lifecycle.
- Coordinate and oversee ground and flight test execution activities, ensuring adherence to approved procedures, safety requirements, and program objectives.
- Ensure test activities, methodologies, and deliverables align with engineering, mission, and program requirements.
- Participate in Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), test planning meetings, and pre-test briefings to support successful test execution.
- Develop, maintain, and continuously improve test procedures to enhance accuracy, efficiency, repeatability, and overall execution quality.
- Investigate, troubleshoot, and evaluate test anomalies, discrepancies, and system performance issues to support timely resolution.
- Collaborate closely with Test Engineering, Quality Engineering, and cross-functional teams to resolve issues, implement corrective actions, and improve test processes.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on increasing test efficiency, execution quality, and operational effectiveness.
- Support extended work hours, shift work, and weekend operations as required to meet test schedules, flight operations, and program commitments.

Required Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field and 5+ years of relevant aerospace, aircraft test, or flight test experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience planning, executing, and reporting on test activities for UAV, UAS, or manned aircraft systems.
- Ability to read, interpret, and understand engineering drawings, schematics, and technical documentation.
- Experience developing aircraft test plans, test procedures, and test documentation for new or modified aircraft systems.
- Hands-on experience supporting aircraft integration, test, and validation activities in a production or manufacturing environment.
- Ability to troubleshoot complex aircraft, avionics, and system integration issues during test activities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated attention to detail with a proactive, safety-focused approach to testing and operations.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance and any required program access.
- Willingness to work non-standard hours, including evenings and weekends, as required to support program objectives.
- Ability to travel domestically to support flight test and customer site activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Active DoD Secret security clearance (current preferred) with eligibility to support special access programs.
- Experience supporting Group 5 UAS/UAV launch, recovery, and flight operations.
- Hands-on experience with aircraft avionics systems, integration, troubleshooting, and testing.
- Aircraft maintenance experience supporting military, commercial, or unmanned aircraft platforms.
- Experience conducting laboratory-based testing, verification, and validation of aircraft systems, subsystems, or components.

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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- [Autonomy Engineer, Technical Documentation](https://feeny.ai/job/autonomy-engineer-technical-documentation-shield-ai-san-diego-97g67v4ys3n9) — San Diego, CA
- [Director, Systems Engineering & Architecture - Hivemind Enterprise](https://feeny.ai/job/director-systems-engineering-architecture-hivemind-enterprise-shield-ai-san-z1zb7g7vsm3y) — San Diego, CA
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- [Senior Executive Recruiter - G&A (R6520)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-executive-recruiter-g-a-r6520-shield-ai-remote-snsx3nvzjs9y)
- [Senior Executive Recruiter - Hivemind (R6523)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-executive-recruiter-hivemind-r6523-shield-ai-remote-mmd5bjrh5ehm)
- [Senior Executive Recruiter - Aircraft (R6521)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-executive-recruiter-aircraft-r6521-shield-ai-remote-w5x8jyftv460)
- [Sr. Director, Global People Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-director-global-people-operations-shield-ai-seattle-6xtw6kzm9trf) — Seattle, WA