Senior Field Services Engineer (R6380)

Shield AI•San Diego, CA

About The Position

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-technology company focused on 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. The Senior Field Services Engineer supports HMS demonstration and test operations by coordinating flight operations, equipment staging, transportation, logistics, site support, and field execution for flight test campaigns, demonstrations, operational evaluations, and customer events. The role ensures personnel, platforms, payloads, communications, ground control systems, and supporting equipment are ready where and when needed. It serves as a demonstration and flight-test operator and subject-matter expert for Group 1/2 UAS assets and their operational use. The engineer engages operators, customers, and mission stakeholders to understand requirements and constraints; develops TTPs and CONOPS aligned with customer mission-essential tasks; and supports operator familiarization, training, and documentation. Working closely with software, systems, and flight-test teams, the position supports integration, validation, and operational assessment of autonomy capabilities in lab, ground, and flight environments. It connects autonomy-system development, testing, and field employment through operational realism, a mission-user perspective, logistics coordination, and deployment-readiness expertise.

Requirements

At least 4 years of experience operating and maintaining Group 1/2 UAS platforms.
Strong background working with military units, both foreign and domestic.
Strong knowledge of COTS UAS hardware, autopilot systems, ground control stations, communications systems, and payload integration.
Ability to engage customer UAS and ground operators on mission requirements.
Clear understanding of customer mission-essential tasks and concepts of operations (CONOPS).
Experience developing, implementing, and executing SOPs, checklists, and operational processes.
Working knowledge of FAA regulations, National Airspace System operations, airspace coordination, and flight-authorization requirements.
Experience conducting flight operations in dynamic and complex test environments.
Strong understanding of mission planning, operational employment, logistics, and field coordination.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief large groups.
Ability to turn qualitative user feedback into structured requirements or recommendations.
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 is required.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting C2 operations, tactical communications, aviation or maritime operations, and operational test and evaluation events.
Experience supporting autonomy, AI-enabled systems, or developmental flight-test programs, particularly with multi-aircraft or distributed UAS operations.
Experience in training delivery, sustainment planning, and range or event support.
Familiarity with control and autopilot elements such as QGC, Mission Planner, ArduPilot, and PX4.
U.S. military or government-agency UAS operations experience.

Responsibilities

Work directly with the test team and business development on product capabilities and customer requirements.
Develop representative mission scenarios and assess operational effectiveness, usability, suitability, supportability, and field readiness.
Translate real-world mission needs into test objectives, measures, and evaluation criteria that complement engineering and Flight Test Operations assessments.
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 operational testing and demonstrations.
Capture field observations, operational lessons, customer feedback, and sustainment needs, and convert them into actionable recommendations for engineering and program teams.
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.
Execute operational test procedures and mission plans in compliance with established safety and operational requirements.
Support development, refinement, and enforcement of SOPs, checklists, and operational best practices for demonstrations and testing.
Ensure compliance with FAA regulations, airspace requirements, range procedures, and company flight-operations standards.
Assist with flight planning, airspace coordination, mission scheduling, and operational risk assessments.
Coordinate demo flight operations, equipment staging, transportation, logistics, site support, and field execution for campaigns, demonstrations, evaluations, and customer events.
Engage operators, customers, and mission stakeholders to understand mission requirements and constraints.
Develop TTPs and CONOPS aligned with customer mission-essential tasks, and support operator familiarization, training, and documentation.
Support integration, validation, and operational assessment of autonomy capabilities in lab, ground, and flight environments.