Operates and maintains Group 1/2 unmanned aircraft for developmental and operational flight testing. Responsibilities include aircraft and payload configuration, inspections, launch and recovery, troubleshooting, mission planning, airspace coordination, SOP development, safety compliance, and autonomy system validation. The role coordinates closely with software, systems, safety, and flight operations teams and supports laboratory, ground, and flight environments.
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.
The HMS UAS Operations Technician is responsible for the execution of surrogate flight test operations supporting the Hivemind portfolio. This role conducts day-to-day flight activities, aircraft preparation, system configuration, field operations, and operational support for autonomy testing.
The HMS UAS Operations Technician serves as the primary operator and technical lead for Group 1/2 UAS test assets, ensuring aircraft, payloads, ground control systems, and supporting equipment are mission-ready and operated in accordance with established procedures, safety requirements, and operational standards.
This position works closely with software, systems, and flight operations teams to support the integration, validation, and operational assessment of autonomy capabilities in laboratory, ground, and flight environments.
What you'll do:
- Operate flight test platforms in support of daily fly-fix-fly verification activities
- Serve as a primary operator for Group 1/2 UAS platforms during developmental and operational testing.
- Configure, inspect, maintain, and troubleshoot aircraft, payloads, autopilot systems, and ground control stations.
- Coordinate aircraft readiness, pre-flight inspections, launch and recovery operations, and post-flight maintenance activities.
- Execute operational test procedures and mission plans while ensuring compliance with established safety and operational requirements.
- Support development, refinement, and enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and operational best practices.
- Ensure compliance with FAA regulations, airspace requirements, range procedures, and company flight operations standards.
- Assist in flight planning, airspace coordination, mission scheduling, and operational risk assessments.
Required qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience operating and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms in test, military, commercial, or operational environments.
- Strong knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilot systems, ground control stations, communications systems, and payload integration.
- Experience developing, implementing, and executing standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and operational processes.
- Working knowledge of FAA regulations, National Airspace System (NAS) operations, airspace coordination, and flight authorization requirements.
- Experience conducting flight operations in dynamic and complex test environments.
- Strong organizational, communication, and mission planning skills.
- Ability to coordinate effectively with software, systems, safety, and flight operations personnel.
- FAA Part 107 certification or equivalent UAS operational experience.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience supporting autonomy, AI-enabled systems, or developmental flight test programs, particularly with multi-aircraft or distributed UAS operations.
- Fabrication experience with design, build of mechanical and electrical systems
- Familiarity with standard control and autopilot elements such as QGC, Mission Planner, Ardupilot, Px4
- Military UAS operations or test experience.
#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
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Co-op reliability engineering role supporting autonomous aircraft hardware validation. Responsibilities include environmental and stress testing, failure analysis, root cause investigations, reliability risk analysis, FMEA, design reviews, corrective actions, process improvements, and collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers. The role also involves Python-based data analysis, occasional travel, and ownership of a project under senior engineering mentorship.
Top Skills:
AltiumFmeaHaltHassKicadOscilloscopesPython
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Design and develop structural components and assemblies for autonomous UAVs from concept through production release. Perform CAD modeling, hand stress calculations, limited FEA, drawing release, and structural validation. Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, payload, manufacturing, and flight-test teams. Support hardware integration, testing, failure analysis, design reviews, and resolution of build issues while ensuring aerospace standards, manufacturability, structural integrity, and system integration.
Top Skills:
AbaqusAnsysAsme Y14.5CatiaFaa StandardsFinite Element Analysis (Fea)Gd&TMil-StdNastranNxSolidworks
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Robotics • Software • Defense Technology
Integrate, validate, and deploy Shield AI’s autonomy software across simulations, hardware-in-the-loop environments, and robotic flight platforms. Configure sensors, interfaces, middleware, and platform adapters; develop integration frameworks, deployment scripts, and testing tools; troubleshoot system behavior using logs, telemetry, and rosbag data; optimize CI/CD workflows; and verify system requirements and interface compliance across autonomous systems.
Top Skills:
Autonomous SystemsC++Ci/CdCommunication InterfacesEmbedded SystemsHardware-In-The-Loop (Hil)Hivemind SdkMiddlewareNetworkingOperating SystemsPythonRadio CommunicationsRoboticsRosRosbagSensor DriversSimulation ToolsSoftware-In-The-Loop (Sil)Telemetry
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
