Earth Is Our Runway
Shield AI Logo

Shield AI

Senior Engineer, System Integration Test (R6086)

Posted An Hour Ago
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
San Diego, CA
110K-170K Annually
Senior level
In-Office
San Diego, CA
110K-170K Annually
Senior level
Integrate and verify autonomy software on aircraft hardware across SIL, HIL, ground, and flight-test environments. Develop test plans, test cards, schedules, and automation; identify and resolve interface, timing, protocol, and hardware/software integration gaps. Coordinate with aircraft vendors, configure test benches, troubleshoot anomalies, assess flight readiness, and analyze post-flight data. The role requires Linux and Python proficiency, cross-functional coordination, periodic travel, and eligibility for a U.S. DoD SECRET clearance.
The summary above was generated by AI
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:

As a System Integration Test Engineer, you will integrate and verify Shield AI's Hivemind mission autonomy software directly on Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) flight hardware. You will serve as the hands-on technical bridge between autonomy algorithms and physical aircraft systems, working across Shield AI and aircraft platform vendors to verify system interfaces, validate edge compute performance, and resolve integration issues before flight testing. 

You will drive integration across Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments, both in Shield AI's internal laboratories and on-site at platform vendor integration facilities (including SIL, HIL, and iron bird test benches). You will turn high-level program objectives into executable integration plans, schedules, and test cards, systematically uncovering interface gaps early and formulating technical solutions to close them. This is an essential, high-impact role for an engineer who excels at the intersection where complex mission software meets real aircraft avionics and hardware. 

What you'll do:

  • Integrate Mission Autonomy on ACP Hardware: Deploy, integrate, and verify Hivemind mission autonomy software with actual ACP software and hardware in Shield AI and platform vendor SIL and HIL labs. 
  • Develop Test & Integration Plans: Develop detailed integration test plans, test cards, schedules, and objective success criteria across lab, ground, and flight test phases. 
  • Identify & Resolve Integration Gaps: Proactively identify architectural, interface, protocol, timing, and hardware/software gaps early; formulate concrete gap-closure plans, risk mitigations, and technical workarounds alongside Shield engineering and platform partners. 
  • Coordinate Joint Vendor Lab Execution: Partner directly with aircraft OEMs and platform vendors to coordinate lab readiness, align entry/exit criteria, deconflict bench time, and co-execute joint integration campaigns. 
  • Conduct Hands-On Lab Triage: Execute integration tests, configure test benches, and lead real-time troubleshooting of multi-system anomalies 
  • Drive Test Automation & Tooling: Coordinate across engineering teams to design and build test automation and simulation scripts to accelerate development 
  • Gate Flight Readiness & Support Flight Test: Enforce empirical test entry/exit criteria to gate delivery to aircraft ground and flight test; support flight test preparation, configuration validation, real-time troubleshooting, and post-flight data analysis. 
  • Support travel to test sites, customer events, and integration activities as required 

Required qualifications:

  • Typically requires 5+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Computer, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or related technical field, or 3+ years with a Master's degree. 
  • Lab & Hardware Integration: Demonstrated experience in system integration and test, including SIL, HIL, simulation, and flight test environments. 
  • Test Planning & Documentation: Proven ability to author clear, comprehensive integration test plans, procedures, and test cards, and translate test results into actionable engineering findings and gap closure roadmaps. 
  • Troubleshooting & Analysis: Strong experience troubleshooting complex system interfaces using telemetry, logs, packet capture tools (e.g., Wireshark), or hardware diagnostic equipment. 
  • Scripting & Linux: Proficiency with Linux operating systems and scripting languages (Python preferred) for test automation, data analysis, and hardware bench interfacing. 
  • Communication & Organization: Highly organized and methodical, with the ability to organize integration tasks, track dependencies, and coordinate work across distributed engineering teams and external partners. 
  • Travel Flexibility: Willingness and ability to travel periodically to platform vendor facilities and flight test locations as program needs require. 
  • Clearance & Citizenship: Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD SECRET security clearance; U.S. citizenship required. 

Preferred qualifications:

  • Autonomous & Uncrewed Systems: Experience with Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP), Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), UAS (Group 4/5), or military aircraft mission systems. 
  • OEM / Prime Contractor Experience: Experience working directly inside aircraft manufacturer or defense prime contractor integration labs (e.g., Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Anduril). 
  • Open Architecture Standards: Familiarity with open systems architectures such as Open Mission Systems (OMS), Universal Command and Control Interface (UCI), and Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). 
  • Middleware & Frameworks: Experience with inter-process communication and messaging middleware (e.g., DDS, ROS/ROS2, ZeroMQ, gRPC). 
  • Safety & Airworthiness: Understanding of airworthiness processes, safety-of-flight standards, or software assurance guidelines (e.g., DO-178C, DO-254, MIL-STD-882E). 
  • Active Clearance: Active DoD SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance. 

What success looks like:

    Mission autonomy and aircraft hardware/avionics operate reliably and deterministically together in representative SIL and HIL labs well before aircraft ground and flight testing. Integration gaps and interface discrepancies are surfaced and resolved early, configurations and master test schedules are transparent and aligned across vendors, and rigorous lab test results provide the high-confidence empirical evidence needed to clear the aircraft for flight. 

#LI-LD1
#LC

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. 

Similar Jobs at Shield AI

An Hour Ago
In-Office
150K-230K Annually
Senior level
150K-230K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Own the Marketing organization’s data and analytics strategy, including data structures, reporting requirements, governance, dashboards, and marketing funnel measurement. Partner with engineers, MarTech teams, vendors, and leadership to improve infrastructure, data quality, and operational efficiency. Lead executive-level performance analyses, operating-plan metrics, and C-suite reporting by translating complex cross-functional data into actionable strategic narratives.
Top Skills: Ai And Automation ToolsData ModelingData PipelinesETLGoogle AnalyticsGoogle BigqueryLooker StudioMarketoSalesforceSQLTableau
An Hour Ago
In-Office
110K-210K Annually
Senior level
110K-210K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Lead aircraft reliability engineering across development, integration, testing, and operations. Establish reliability requirements and budgets, perform predictions and analyses including FMEA, FTA, RBD, and Weibull analysis, manage FRACAS and reliability growth activities, analyze test and field data, assess supplier performance, and recommend design improvements. Communicate reliability risks and metrics to engineering leadership and customers while mentoring junior engineers and improving organizational processes.
Top Skills: Aerospace SystemsEprdFault Tree AnalysisFmeaFmecaFracasIsographMil-Hdbk-217Model-Based Systems EngineeringMtbcfMtbfNprdRam CommanderReliability Block DiagramsReliability EngineeringReliasoftRequirements Management ToolsRiac 217PlusWeibull AnalysisWindchill Quality Solutions
An Hour Ago
In-Office
110K-210K Annually
Senior level
110K-210K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software
Performs structural analysis and testing for advanced UAV airframes and components. Builds finite element models, conducts static, modal, fatigue, vibration, and shock analyses, validates results through hand calculations, and analyzes telemetry and test data. Collaborates with engineering teams to optimize lightweight composite and metallic structures for strength, weight, safety, and manufacturability. Documents technical findings and supports structural test planning, certification, and continuous improvement of analysis methods.
Top Skills: AnsysCatiaExcelFemapFinite Element Analysis (Fea)HyperworksMatlabNastranNxPatranPythonSolidworksTeamcenter

What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene

Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.

Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
  • Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
  • Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account